Syria Denies Yemen Deployment as Troop Talks Are Reported

Syria says it has no current troop movement toward Yemen and has no plan to open a new regional front, while reports citing unnamed U.S. officials describe discussions about possible Syrian military assistance to Saudi Arabia. Whether Riyadh formally requested troops remains disputed, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has not made a final decision on any deployment, according to those reports. The Syrian Foreign Ministry’s Foreign Media Department said Damascus supports Saudi Arabia in confronting threats to its security but bases its regional policy on stability, peace and cooperation. It said any military cooperation would proceed through official channels and existing bilateral frameworks. A Syrian Defence Ministry source separately said there was no current movement of Syrian forces toward Yemen. Reports citing U.S. officials say Riyadh and Damascus discussed deploying as many as 20,000 Syrian troops to Yemen, where Saudi-backed forces are fighting the Houthis. The reported proposal was discussed during al-Sharaa’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday.