Syria weighs sending 10,000-20,000 troops to Yemen to fight Houthis, Axios reports
In short
Syria and Saudi Arabia are discussing sending Syrian troops to Yemen to fight the Houthi movement Ansar Allah («Ансар Аллах»), Russian outlets reported, citing Axios. Damascus could send 10,000 to 20,000 troops, and Syrian President Akhmed ash-Sharaa (Ахмед аш-Шараа) is seriously considering the request, according to the reports. The US administration does not object in principle, Axios reported.
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Syria and Saudi Arabia are discussing sending Syrian troops to Yemen to take part in the operation against the Houthi movement Ansar Allah, Russian outlets reported overnight on October 7-8, citing the US news site Axios, which referred to US officials and other sources. Damascus could send 10,000 to 20,000 troops, Vedomosti and Interfax reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to Axios, as cited by Interfax, the matter was discussed when Saudi Crown Prince Mukhammed ben Salman met Syrian President Akhmed ash-Sharaa in Riyadh earlier this week. Saudi Arabia wants the Syrian leader to send troops to reinforce Yemeni government forces, which are less prepared than the Houthis. A US official told Axios that ash-Sharaa has not yet decided but is very likely to agree. Vedomosti reported that he is seriously considering the proposal and that a decision may follow talks with Saudi Arabia. [ 3 , 4 ]
The US administration also consulted Damascus and Riyadh and does not object in principle to Syrian forces joining the operation, Axios reported. Its source said such a step would give the operation against the Houthis more support without involving the United States. According to TASS, Axios also wrote that sending Syrian troops could give the war in Yemen a religious character and worsen the conflict. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The operation is led by Yemen's internationally recognised government with the support of a Saudi-led Arab coalition, which carries out air strikes on Houthi positions. On October 4 the government began a counteroffensive against the Houthis, who this autumn took the Yemeni Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Interfax reported. Vedomosti reported that on October 5 the Yemeni army took control of Houthi positions near Bab el-Mandeb, a day after the Houthis struck Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and in the Khurais area with ballistic missiles and drones. Interfax noted that millions of barrels of Saudi oil pass through the strait. [ 3 , 4 ]
Vedomosti wrote that Yemen's civil war, which began in 2014, is going through a new escalation. In early August the Houthis carried out a large missile strike on oil infrastructure in several Saudi cities, in response to a Saudi air raid on a prison in the northern Yemeni province of Al-Jawf. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
Syrian forces would join an operation by Yemen's internationally recognised government, backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition, against the Houthis, whose missile and drone attacks have hit Saudi oil sites. According to TASS, Axios wrote that sending Syrian troops could give the war in Yemen a religious character and deepen the conflict.
Key facts
- Syria is considering sending troops to Yemen to fight the Houthis, Axios reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Syria and Saudi Arabia are discussing the deployment. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Damascus could send between 10,000 and 20,000 troops. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The issue was discussed when Saudi Crown Prince Mukhammed ben Salman (Мухаммед бен Салман) met Syrian President Akhmed ash-Sharaa in Riyadh earlier this week, according to Axios. [ 4 ]
- The US administration does not object to sending the troops, according to the reports. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Saudi Arabia wants Syrian troops to reinforce Yemeni government forces, which Axios described as less prepared than the Houthis. [ 4 ]
- Yemen's internationally recognised government began a counteroffensive against the Houthis on October 4. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Akhmed ash-Sharaa will agree to send troops. Interfax, citing a US official quoted by Axios, said no decision has been made but that he is very likely to agree; Vedomosti said a decision may follow talks with Saudi Arabia.
- Who the sources are. All reports rely on Axios, which cited unnamed US officials and sources; neither Damascus nor Riyadh is quoted.
- Whether the deployment would give the war a religious character. This assessment is attributed to Axios only in the TASS summary.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports, citing Axios, that Syria is considering sending troops to Yemen to fight the Houthis (October 7). [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that Syria is discussing sending troops against the Houthis (October 8). [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti reports that Saudi Arabia and Syria are discussing a deployment of 10,000 to 20,000 Syrian troops. [ 3 ]
- Interfax reports that the deployment was discussed at a meeting of the Saudi crown prince and the Syrian president in Riyadh. [ 4 ]