Yemeni Ambassador in Damascus: Reports of Syrian Troop Deployment in Yemen Do Not Reflect Reality
The Chargé d'Affaires of the Yemeni Embassy in Damascus, Mohammed Azzi Ba'aker, confirmed that circulating reports about sending Syrian forces to Yemen under a military cooperation agreement between the two countries do not reflect the current situation, stressing that such steps are only taken through official institutions and in accordance with legal procedures.
In a statement to the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Ba'aker said that what is being circulated about sending forces within the framework of military cooperation between the two countries does not reflect the reality on the ground at the present time, explaining that such steps are announced through the relevant official institutions and in accordance with established legal procedures, in a way that serves the interests of both countries and peoples.
The Yemeni ambassador praised the statements of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, in which he affirmed his country's support for the Yemeni government and its efforts to achieve security and stability, and condemned the attacks launched by the Houthi group on civilian targets.
Al-Shaibani had confirmed, during a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart on November 9th, that Syria is not deploying any forces in Yemen, and there is no imminent plan to do so, stressing that any Syrian military movement outside its borders will be announced clearly and will not be carried out secretly.
Ba'aker affirmed that Yemeni-Syrian relations are heading towards more cooperation and integration in various fields, praising the importance of regional coordination to enhance security and stability.
The Yemeni ambassador's clarifications come after a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), which cited Yemeni government and military sources as saying that Syria intends to send about 3,000 soldiers to Yemen to participate in the fight against the Houthi group as part of the Saudi-led coalition.
According to the sources quoted by the agency, the understanding regarding the deployment of forces was reached during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's recent visit to Riyadh, noting that the proposed arrangements include deploying more than 10,000 Syrian fighters in stages, and that technical teams from the Syrian and Saudi defense ministries are working to finalize the participation arrangements.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
