Saudi Arabia and Syria have signed a defence cooperation agreement, according to the kingdom’s state news agency, during a visit to Riyadh by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The deal was signed on Wednesday by the two countries’ defence ministries during a meeting between Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The signing came as renewed Houthi missile and drone attacks targeted the kingdom. It was the second meeting between the two leaders in Saudi Arabia in less than a month, and the report did not provide details of the agreement.
Syria weighed military aid as Houthi conflict escalated
Last month, reports said Syria was carefully considering whether to offer military assistance to Saudi Arabia as its conflict with the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen intensified. A Syrian diplomat said at the time that any such request or exchange of expertise would proceed solely through formal channels under existing bilateral accords.
Also read: Saudi coalition says it downed Houthi drone near Makkah
Saudi Arabia has been seeking help from the United States, European states and other Middle Eastern countries for defensive and offensive support against the Houthis.
Saudi development loans for Syria
The two countries also signed several other agreements during Sharaa’s visit. The Saudi Fund for Development signed six agreements with Syria’s Finance Ministry on Wednesday, offering more than $403 million in concessional development loans, the Syrian ministry said.
The loans are meant to support development and service sectors in Syria. Riyadh has already provided financial aid to Syria and helped restore Damascus’ ties with world powers after Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow.
