The Associated Press, citing sources in Syria, has reported that a group of approximately 600 Syrian special forces personnel is expected to be deployed to Saudi Arabia next week.
The news agency reported on Sunday night, November 8, that, according to one source, Saudi Arabia had insisted that the personnel must be Syrian nationals, rather than foreign nationals who had flocked to Syria during the civil war and joined various rebel groups.
According to the report, the source said that a Syrian delegation led by Khaled Khattab, commander of the 82nd Division, had recently made a two-week visit to Saudi Arabia.
Another Syrian official said that 36 Syrian military officials had visited a command and operations room in Jeddah, operated by Saudi and Yemeni officials, where they were briefed on the situation along the front lines and in various operational areas.
Meanwhile, a regional official familiar with the discussions said that Syria had previously deployed a “small number of advisers” to Saudi Arabia. These personnel are helping train Yemeni forces on Saudi territory.
It is worth noting that Syria and Saudi Arabia announced last week that they had signed a military cooperation agreement, although they did not provide further details.
