3 publishers · first seen Thu, 05 Nov 2026 09:14 UTC · updated Mon, 09 Nov 2026 09:43 UTC
Saudi Arabia has signed its first defense agreement with Syria since the fall of Bashar Assad, according to Saudi Arabia's official press agency. The agreement, which was signed during Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa's visit to Riyadh, is part of growing ties between the two countries. It is expected to focus on military training, intelligence sharing, equipment transfers, and assistance in rebuilding Syria's armed forces. The agreement could also pave the way for more direct military cooperation, potentially including Syrian personnel supporting Saudi operations in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthi militant group. However, such a step remains speculative and unlikely in the near term. Syria is also considering joining the Saudi-Pakistani-Turkish defense alliance, known as the Mecca Pact, although this would depend on negotiations with existing members and Damascus's willingness to assume the pact's collective defense obligations, alongside other strategic considerations.
Syria is preparing to send fighters to Saudi Arabia to deploy along its border and potentially help it fight Iranian-backed rebels in neighboring Yemen, according to three officials with knowledge of the plans.
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