Syria may send forces to Saudi Arabia to help in the fight against the Houthis of Yemen. This issue arises as the Houthi group, which is backed by Iran, has escalated its missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, resulting in the deaths of three people at Saudi airports this week.
Response to Saudi Requests
Saudi Arabia is seeking support from its allied countries, including Turkey and Pakistan, even in logistical and defensive capacities. This need for support has intensified, especially after Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including a deadly attack on an airport. On Thursday, loud explosions were heard in Riyadh, which officials were unable to immediately identify the cause of.
Read more: Oman's Sultan Concludes His Visit to Kazakhstan
The Houthi group announced on Thursday that they had attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile. Saudi media did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Attention to Syria's Internal Situation
A Syrian diplomat, in response to a request for comment from the country's Foreign Ministry, stated that Syria firmly supports Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, but the primary focus of the Syrian government is on domestic issues, including recovery from the country's civil war. He added, "If Saudi Arabia requests any military cooperation or exchange of experiences, this action will only be carried out through official channels and within the framework of bilateral agreements between the two brotherly countries."
This week, Saudi-backed forces launched a retaliatory attack and recaptured areas around the Bab al-Mandab Strait while trying to reverse Houthi advances. However, in a war that has multiple fronts, the Houthis have also made gains and are besieging Yemen's third-largest city, Taiz, by capturing land along the main mountainous road to Aden.
The Yemen war, which has been ongoing for a long time and was halted with a ceasefire in 2022, has flared up again in recent weeks. The Houthis seized areas of the Red Sea coast last month and have increased their threats to shipping in waters that are critical for Gulf oil exports.
Last summer, Saudi Arabia signed an agreement known as the Mecca Agreement with Turkey and Pakistan, obligating all three countries to support each other against security threats, although Turkey still needs to ratify this pact domestically. Turkey, a NATO member, has stated that it is sending primarily defensive and technical support to Saudi Arabia to help counter the Houthis, which is expected to take the form of military equipment, intelligence sharing, and weapon systems.
Pakistan has also sent air shipments of military equipment to Aden and deployed forces into Saudi Arabia to help defend its borders.
Read more: Saudi Arabia Begins Air Safety Investigations Following Flydubai Incident · Oil Prices Rise Amid Supply Threats in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia
