It has been claimed that the Syrian administration is evaluating the option of sending troops to the region to support the fight against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
According to a report by the US-based Axios, citing three US officials, the talks are being conducted primarily between Riyadh and Damascus. It was reported that Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara is seriously considering the matter but has not yet made a final decision.
The issue was allegedly also raised during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Ahmed al-Shara in Riyadh earlier this week. It is stated that Saudi Arabia has requested military contributions from Syria to support Yemeni forces on the ground against the Houthis.
WASHINGTON DOES NOT OBJECT TO THE PLAN
The report stated that the Donald Trump administration does not oppose the potential deployment in principle. According to US officials, Washington believes that such a move could strengthen Saudi-backed operations without the need for direct American intervention.
Two US officials also reported that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has been consulted on how Syrian troops could be deployed. It was noted that the White House and CENTCOM did not comment on the matter, and that spokespersons for the Saudi Embassy in Washington and the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to questions.
A source familiar with the talks said that sending 10,000 to 20,000 troops from the Syrian army to Yemen is on the agenda as part of the plan. It was claimed that the 90th Division near Damascus and the 84th Division in As-Suwayda are being considered for the deployment.
Warnings are also being issued that a potential military deployment could add a new dimension to the Yemen war. In particular, it is assessed that the possibility of sending foreign Sunni elements who have fought against the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria to Yemen could increase sectarian tensions on the ground.
News Source: 12punto
