Syria Denies Yemen Troop Deployment, Cites Saudi Training Pact

Syria Denies Yemen Troop Deployment, Cites Saudi Training Pact

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“Reports about sending Syrian military forces to Yemen at this time are baseless,” an unnamed Syrian diplomatic source told the state news agency. The source said Damascus is focused on strengthening domestic security, rebuilding the country and reviving its economy.

Saudi coordination visits to Syria will begin in December, the source said, without naming dates or participants. Existing military arrangements with Riyadh cover training, exchanges of expertise and military advisory support. The source offered no further details on the training agreement.

The agreement was announced on Nov. 4, when Syria’s Foreign Ministry said the two countries’ defense ministries had signed a military cooperation deal. It was signed during Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The source also pointed to a possible deeper partnership, saying cooperation with Saudi Arabia “could eventually lead to a mutual defense agreement or to Syria joining the Mecca Defense Alliance, depending on shared interests.”

The Mecca Defense Alliance brings together Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and ...