Syria is preparing to send fighters to Saudi Arabia to deploy along the Saudi border and potentially help it fight Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, three officials with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press.
An initial force of about 600 Syrian special forces fighters is expected to be deployed to Saudi Arabia in the coming week, a Syrian official said. Syrian military advisers have already deployed to Saudi Arabia, where they help train Yemeni forces. No fighters have been sent to Yemen.
A Syrian delegation led by Khaled Khattab, commander of the 82nd Division, recently made a two-week visit to Saudi Arabia. During the visit, 36 Syrian military officials visited a command and operations room in Jeddah and were briefed on the different front lines.
The move follows a military cooperation agreement signed by Syria and Saudi Arabia last week, on 4 November, during a visit to Riyadh by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Saudi Arabia also agreed to lend Syria more than $400 million for postwar reconstruction.
Syria is also discussing joining the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Two Syrian officials said a decision to join had been made but not publicly announced, while a regional official said talks were still ongoing.
Syria’s state news agency SANA reported on Saturday that a Syrian diplomatic official dismissed reports that Syrian forces were headed to Yemen, saying the agreement focuses on training and building capabilities. The denial concerns forces going to Yemen, not the deployment to Saudi Arabia.
Fighting escalated this summer in Yemen between the Houthis and the government’s Saudi-backed forces. The Houthis have also launched direct and deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia, in the latest front of the regional conflict that began in February when the US and Israel attacked Iran. Syria has so far stayed on the sidelines and has turned down US proposals for its forces to intervene against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Saudi officials did not immediately respond to AP requests for comment.
Source: Associated Press, published 8 November 2026.
