Syria is aiding Saudi Arabia with military advice and training as the kingdom comes under attack by Yemen's Houthis, and has sent a number of personnel to the country, two Syrian military sources and a senior US official told Reuters. The sources said scores of Syrian personnel had travelled to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks to help train Saudi and Yemeni units and improve their combat effectiveness. A senior Syrian diplomat said any suggestion of military deployments at this stage was premature, adding that a defence cooperation deal signed on Wednesday includes advisory support, training and exchange of expertise.

A pact signed in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia and Syria signed the defence pact on Wednesday during a visit to Riyadh by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, his second meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in less than a month. No details of the agreement were announced. The Saudi Fund for Development also signed six loan agreements worth more than $403 million with Syria's Finance Ministry on Wednesday to support development and service sectors. Breaking Defense reported it was the first defence agreement between the two countries since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

A new regional alignment

Syria has emerged as a close ally of Saudi Arabia and the United States since rebels led by al-Sharaa toppled Assad, an ally of Iran, in 2024. Turkey on Thursday ratified a defence pact signed in Mecca in August between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, clearing the way for Ankara to send military support to Riyadh. A senior US official warned that Syria risks being drawn into a wider regional war if its forces become involved in Yemen, a caution echoed by Syrian officials who stress the mandate is limited to training.