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Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Saudi, Syrian defense ministries sign cooperation agreement — reports
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Saudi Arabia and Syria signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries’ defense ministries today, Saudi state news agency SPA reports, as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis continue their missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.
The agreement was signed during a visit by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Riyadh, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It was their second meeting in Saudi Arabia in less than a month.
No details were provided on what the agreement entails. Reuters reported last month that Syria was carefully weighing providing military assistance to Saudi Arabia amid the kingdom’s escalating war against the Houthis in Yemen.
A Syrian diplomat said at the time that any request for military cooperation or exchange of expertise “would take place exclusively through official channels and within the framework of the bilateral agreements governing relations between our two brotherly countries.”
The two countries also signed several other agreements during Sharaa’s visit to Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has been providing financial assistance to Syria and has played a key role in re-establishing Damascus’ ties with world powers after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
The Saudi Fund for Development signed six agreements with Syria’s Finance Ministry today for the provision of concessional development loans worth over $403 million to support development and service sectors in Syria, the Syrian ministry says.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.