The options under consideration include defensive support to help protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi missile and drone attacks, as well as potentially deploying Syrian forces to support Saudi-backed Yemeni troops fighting the Houthis, the officials said, Reuters reported.
A US official said Saudi Arabia had asked Syria to deploy forces to fight the Houthis.
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Syria’s government, however, has indicated that its main priority remains rebuilding the country after 14 years of civil war.
A Syrian diplomat told Reuters that Damascus stood firmly with Saudi Arabia in the face of Houthi attacks but stressed that any military cooperation would have to be conducted through official channels and under existing bilateral agreements.
“Should Saudi Arabia request any military cooperation or exchange of expertise, this would take place exclusively through official channels and within the framework of the bilateral agreements governing relations between our two brotherly countries,” the diplomat said.
Saudi Arabia has been seeking international assistance as it confronts a renewed conflict with the Houthis following weeks of missile and drone attacks targeting the kingdom. Riyadh has sought support from the United States, Europe and countries across the Middle East.
The current campaign is being conducted primarily by Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi air power. The forces have made limited gains since launching the campaign on Monday, as fighting with the Houthis has intensified.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa discussed possible military assistance with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to Riyadh on Tuesday, according to the US official.
The meeting came as Syria seeks to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia, which has played an important role in supporting Damascus and helping Sharaa gain international legitimacy.
Any decision to deploy Syrian troops to Yemen would carry significant risks for Damascus.
The Syrian government is still rebuilding its armed forces from the various militia groups that formed the opposition coalition that ousted former President Bashar al-Assad. The government has also sought to avoid becoming directly involved in regional conflicts while concentrating on rebuilding the country.
Syrian fighters from former opposition groups have previously been recruited for conflicts abroad, including fighting in Libya and the Russia-Ukraine war. But a formal deployment of Syrian forces against the Houthis could mark a significant shift in Damascus’ current approach to regional conflicts.
The Houthis, who follow a branch of Shiite Islam, are backed by Iran. Syria’s new leadership includes former rebels who fought against Iranian-backed forces and Hezbollah during the Syrian civil war.
A Syrian military intervention in Yemen could therefore risk provoking Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, all of which have longstanding ties to the Houthis and complicated relationships with Syria’s new rulers.
The US official said Damascus was also concerned that fighting the Houthis could acquire sectarian overtones at a time when Syria is trying to manage tensions among its own religious and ethnic communities.
For those reasons, Syria previously declined a US request to assist in operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Despite the risks, Sharaa has strong incentives to demonstrate support for Saudi Arabia and Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia helped facilitate Sharaa’s international rehabilitation, including by arranging a May 2025 meeting between the Syrian president and US President Donald Trump. Riyadh has also provided financial support to Syria, and further assistance could follow a visible Syrian contribution to Saudi security, the US official said.
H.A. Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said a limited Syrian deployment focused on protecting religious sites and providing technical assistance against incoming drones could carry significant symbolic value.
However, he said a larger deployment of Syrian troops would be a much more difficult decision for Damascus given its need to focus on rebuilding the country.
Saudi and Yemeni officials did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
