Syrian troops to deploy to Yemen, Saudi Arabia

AFP November 08, 2026 Less than a minute read

Syrian troops deploy to Yemen, Saudi Arabia amid Houthi conflict

DUBAI:

Thousands of Syrian troops are set to deploy to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with some already on the ground, multiple Yemeni officials told AFP, as Riyadh rallies international help to repel the Houthis and bolster the government in Aden.

Hundreds have already been deployed to both sides of the border, according to three separate Yemeni military sources and a defence official.

But more are coming.

Syria will send around 3,000 troops to join the Saudi-led coalition's fight, a source from the Presidential Leadership Council, Yemen's top governing body, told AFP.

"The Syrian side and the Saudi side agreed to send around 3,000 troops to fight against the Houthis," said the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The arrangement was greenlit during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Riyadh this week, where the two countries signed cooperation agreements, including a defence deal.