Syria is considering sending thousands of troops to Yemen to support a Saudi-backed offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis, Axios reported Wednesday, citing three US officials.
Saudi Arabia and Syria are discussing the possible deployment, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is seriously considering the request but has not made a final decision, according to the report.
A source familiar with the discussions told Axios that Syria could send between 10,000 and 20,000 troops. Units under consideration include the 90th Division near Damascus and the 84th Division based in southern Syria near Sweida.
The 84th Division includes thousands of Islamist foreign fighters who fought against former President Bashar al-Assad under the umbrella of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Axios reported.
The issue was discussed during a meeting between Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh earlier this week, a US official told the outlet.
Washington has been consulted by both countries and does not oppose a Syrian deployment in principle, according to Axios. Two US officials said US Central Command had also been consulted on how Syrian troops could be deployed.
The White House and CENTCOM declined to comment to Axios, while the Saudi Embassy and Syrian Foreign Ministry did not respond to the outlet's requests for comment.
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