As tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is seeking more external support to counter attacks by the Houthi armed group on its territory and key facilities. Syria is considering whether to provide military assistance to Saudi Arabia but has not made a final decision yet.
According to a report by Reuters on October 7th, a U.S. official and a Syrian military official revealed that Saudi Arabia has requested Syria to send troops to help combat the Houthi armed group. The options currently under consideration by Syria include providing defensive military support to Saudi Arabia to protect its targets from missile and drone attacks, as well as possibly sending troops to assist the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces in combat.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Riyadh on October 6th and met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The above-mentioned U.S. official stated that the two sides discussed issues such as Syria potentially providing military aid to Saudi Arabia.
However, Syria has not confirmed whether it will send troops. A diplomat from the Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that Syria firmly supports Saudi Arabia in dealing with the Houthi attacks, but the government’s primary focus remains on domestic affairs, including post-war reconstruction. He mentioned that if Saudi Arabia requests military cooperation or professional exchanges, it will be carried out through official channels and relevant bilateral agreements between the two countries.
The new Syrian government is currently integrating former rebel factions, rebuilding its military, and addressing internal security and societal conflicts, hence adopting a cautious stance on involvement in the Yemeni conflict.
Furthermore, the Houthi armed group receives support from Iran, and the new Syrian government had previously fought against the Assad regime backed by Iran and Hezbollah. If Syria participates in combating the Houthi armed group, it could potentially escalate tensions with Iran and its allies.
Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia played a crucial role in the process of international recognition for the new Syrian government and provided financial assistance to Syria. U.S. officials believe that Saudi Arabia hopes for Syria to demonstrate support through military or other means and may increase its aid to Syria in the future.
As Syria considers providing assistance, the situation in Yemen is escalating. The Saudi civil aviation department announced on October 7th that Riyadh and Abha airports were recently targeted in attacks, resulting in 3 deaths and 36 injuries. Among them, the attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport resulted in 1 death and 8 injuries, while the facilities at Abha airport were attacked, leading to 2 deaths and 28 injuries.
Simultaneously, the Houthi armed group targeted Aden International Airport in Yemen. The Yemeni Ministry of Transport stated that a ballistic missile landed near the runway of the airport a few minutes before a flight from Cairo to Aden was scheduled to land.
The Saudi-led coalition has retaliated against the Houthi armed group, targeting over 80 Houthi military objectives in the provinces of Sada’a, Hodeidah, Jizan, and Marib. Saudi Arabia also intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile that was aimed at an area north of Riyadh.
Currently, the fighting is primarily concentrated near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Supported by Saudi air assistance, the Yemeni government forces launched a counteroffensive this week to reclaim strategically important areas occupied by the Houthi armed group in September, including areas near Mocha.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, serving as a crucial shipping route globally. With the disruption of shipping and trade activities in the Hormuz Strait due to U.S.-Iran conflicts, the significance of the Bab al-Mandab Strait for energy transport has further increased. Accordingly, Saudi Arabia is seeking military support from the United States, Europe, and Middle Eastern countries. Turkey has already begun providing assistance to Saudi Arabia primarily focused on defense and technical support.
In 2014, the Houthi armed group captured the Yemeni capital Sana’a, leading Saudi Arabia to spearhead the formation of a coalition to intervene in the Yemeni conflict. Saudi Arabia and its allies have accused Iran of providing weapons, training, and funding to the Houthi armed group. Both Tehran and the Houthi armed group have denied these allegations.
The conflict has resulted in a new humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated on October 7th that since the outbreak of the conflict, over 200,000 people have been displaced, with the United Nations estimating that approximately three-quarters of families in some regions are facing food insecurity.