The key facts

  • Syria denies sending troops to Yemen; the agreement with Saudi Arabia concerns training and advisory support
  • Saudi coordination visits to Syria will begin in December
  • Damascus does not rule out a future joint defense agreement or joining the 'Mecca Defense Alliance'

Damascus denies involvement in the Yemen conflict

An unnamed Syrian diplomatic source told the state agency SANA that Damascus's military agreement with Saudi Arabia is limited to training and building military capacity. 'Reports about the deployment of Syrian military forces to Yemen are currently unfounded,' Anadolu quotes him as saying. According to the source, Syria's priorities are strengthening internal security, rebuilding the country and reviving the economy.

What is known about the agreement

The defense ministries of the two countries signed the military cooperation agreement on November 4 during Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa's visit to Riyadh, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The current arrangements cover training, exchange of experience and military advisory support; the source did not disclose details of the training program. He also said that Saudi coordination visits to Syria would begin in December, without specifying dates or participants.

The statement comes amid reports about advisers

The caveat about Yemen came after media reports that Syria had sent military personnel to Saudi Arabia for consultations and training, including of Saudi and Yemeni units on the kingdom's territory. The SANA source added that cooperation with Riyadh 'could in the future lead to a joint defense agreement or to Syria joining the Mecca Defense Alliance — depending on shared interests.' The alliance includes Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan; on October 5 the three countries held an emergency meeting in Riyadh on the threats facing the kingdom and announced the appointment of the alliance's first secretary general, according to a joint statement.