Syrian Official Refutes Claims That Saudi Arabia Requested Troops to Fight Houthis

A Syrian official has strongly denied reports suggesting that Saudi Arabia asked Damascus to deploy troops to assist the kingdom against the Houthi movement in Yemen. Ahmad Zaidan, media adviser to Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, dismissed recent media speculation regarding plans to send forces to Saudi Arabia or Yemen as completely false.

The denial follows a meeting between Mr Al Shara and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh during an official visit. Mr Zaidan stated on X that the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region is inseparable from the security of Syria. However, he emphasized that claims regarding a request for Syrian forces are entirely baseless.

The statement was reinforced by Syrian Response, the official English-language account of Syria’s Foreign Media Department. The department reiterated Syria's support for Saudi Arabia against security threats, while stressing that national priorities remain focused on domestic rebuilding, institutional strengthening, and regional stability rather than opening new military fronts.

Reports had previously surfaced from international sources citing officials who suggested military assistance options were under consideration, ranging from defensive aid to potential offensive force deployments alongside Saudi-backed Yemeni troops. Meanwhile, recent Houthi attacks on vital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia have drawn widespread condemnation, with Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issuing strong rebukes over strikes targeting civilian sites.