Damascus (AFP) - Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani denied on Monday that his country had deployed any forces in Yemen, or the existence of a "soon plan" in this regard, at a time when Saudi Arabia, which supports the Syrian and Yemeni governments, is working to mobilize international support in confronting the Iran-backed Houthis.
Published on: 09/11/2026 - 16:01 Last updated: 09/11/2026 - 16:13
Al-Shaibani said in a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Al-Safadi, in Damascus, "There is no deployment of forces in Yemen, and there is not even an immediate plan for this matter."
Officials linked to the Yemeni government told Agence France-Presse on Saturday that Syria had begun deploying soldiers in Saudi Arabia and Yemen to support government forces and the coalition in confronting the Houthis.
Al-Shaibani stressed that "any military plan outside the borders will certainly be announced... and its work will not be in secret."
He added, "If there is a supportive military position from the Syrian Arab Republic alongside one of the countries in the region, whether the Kingdom or others, this position will be honorable for us and will be announced officially."
An official in the Yemeni Leadership Council stated that the agreement to deploy Syrian forces was made during a visit made by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa last week to Riyadh, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the two sides signed agreements and understandings.
Al-Shaibani confirmed on Monday that Syria had signed a military cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, which is among the most prominent supporters of the authorities that took power after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, but he stressed that there was “no agreement with the legitimate government in Yemen for deployment.”
Regarding the agreement with Riyadh, he said, “We need it more than any other side,” at a time when his country is working to rebuild the Syrian army and civil and military institutions after long years of conflict.
He added, "We need Saudi expertise to also contribute to building Syrian capabilities and for there to be cooperation between us in the field of defense industries and on the academic side."
The new Syrian army, which was formed by the transitional authorities after announcing the dissolution of all armed factions following the overthrow of Assad, includes a wide range of Islamic faction fighters, including foreign jihadists.
Before the overthrow of the previous regime, fighters from the Syrian factions loyal to Ankara at the time participated in several conflicts from Azerbaijan to Libya and Niger.
After years of calm in Yemen, the conflict was renewed as of July, adding a new front to the war that has been raging in the Middle East since February after the American-Israeli attack on Iran.
During the past weeks, the Houthis expanded their field control in Yemen, taking over the areas of the West Coast and Bab al-Mandab, and intensified their attacks on civilian and oil installations in Saudi Arabia, announcing the imposition of a naval blockade on its ports.
On the other hand, the coalition led by Riyadh intensified its air strikes on Houthi areas, in support of the Yemeni forces trying to regain the areas they lost.
© 2026 AFP
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