Syria aids Saudi Arabia with military advice and training amid Houthi attacks, sources say

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1. 58m ago

   Syria Aids Saudi Arabia with Military Advice Amid Houthi Attacks

   Syria is providing military advice, training, and a limited number of personnel to Saudi Arabia to counter attacks from Yemen's Houthis. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh to sign a defense cooperation agreement. Additionally, the Saudi Fund for Development signed six development loan agreements worth over USD 403 million with Syria. The cooperation comes as Saudi Arabia faces worsening hostilities with the Iran-allied Houthis after the Yemen war reignited due to a wider Middle East conflict.

   Why it matters

   The newly signed defense agreement marks the first cooperation pact between Saudi Arabia and Syria's new leadership. Riyadh has sought both defensive and offensive support from regional allies to deal with the renewed threat posed by Houthi attacks. The financial loans provided by the Saudi Fund for Development further solidify the strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.

   What is confirmed

   • Syria is aiding Riyadh with military advice and training and has sent a limited number of military personnel to the kingdom.
   • Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on November 4, 2026.
   • The Saudi Fund for Development signed six development loan agreements worth over USD 403 million with Syria.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Syria plans to send thousands of troops to Yemen and Saudi Arabia to help fight the Houthis.
   • Joint training exercises were under way and more were planned in both security and defence.

   What to watch next

   • Confirmation of any additional Syrian troop deployments to Saudi Arabia or Yemen.
   • Implementation details of the USD 403 million in development loans from Saudi Arabia to Syria.
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. Al Jazeera — Syria, Saudi Arabia sign defence cooperation deal, agree $403m in loans
   2. www.algemeiner.com — Syria Aids Saudi Arabia With Military Advice, Training Amid ...
   3. Reuters — Syria aids Saudi Arabia with military advice and training amid Houthi attacks, sources say
   4. The Times of Israel — Syria to send thousands of troops to Yemen and Saudi Arabia to help fight Houthis, sources say
   5. The Jerusalem Post — Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa signs reconstruction, military deals with Saudi Arabia
   6. afp.com — Saudi Fund for Development Signs Six Development Loan Agreements Worth Over USD 403 Million with Syria
   7. Kurdistan24 — AFP: Thousands Of Syrian Troops Set For Saudi Arabia and Yemen
   8. Reuters — Syria denies plans to send troops to Yemen as Saudi military ties deepen
   9. CGTN — Saudi Crown Prince receives Syrian President in Riyadh
   10. Yahoo — Thousands of Syrian troops to deploy to Yemen, Saudi Arabia: sources to AFP
   11. The Times of Israel — Damascus denies report Syria sending troops to Yemen and Saudi Arabia to fight Houthis
   12. Arab News — Syria denies plans to send troops to Yemen
   confidence 90%