Syria could join a Saudi-backed military offensive against the Houthis in Yemen by deploying thousands of troops, Axios has reported, citing US officials.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government forces have launched a major counteroffensive to recapture territory seized by the Iranian-backed Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, including areas around the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Saudi-led coalition has backed the operation with extensive airstrikes against Houthi positions.

According to an Axios report, Riyadh and Damascus are discussing the deployment of up to 20,000 Syrian troops. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously led the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is reportedly considering the proposal but has yet to make a decision.

The issue came up during al-Sharaa’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday, the sources said. Saudi Arabia is seeking to reinforce Yemeni government forces, which US officials described as less well-trained than the Houthis.

Washington does not oppose the proposal in principle and sees it as a way to bolster the offensive without deeper American involvement, according to Axios. US Central Command has also been consulted on how Syrian troops could be deployed.

The Syrian units under consideration reportedly include thousands of Islamist foreign fighters who fought against former President Bashar Assad under the HTS umbrella before his overthrow in December 2024. Their involvement could deepen sectarian divisions, as the fighters include Sunni Islamists, while the Houthis follow Zaydi Shiite Islam.

Reuters separately reported that Damascus was considering military assistance, including defensive support for Saudi Arabia or participation in operations inside Yemen. However, Syrian presidential adviser Ahmad Zaidan denied that Riyadh had requested troops, describing the reports as baseless.

The renewed fighting follows Houthi territorial gains along the Red Sea coast in September, threatening shipping through Bab el-Mandeb, a vital trade route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The waterway has gained particular importance following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The Houthis also claimed to have effectively encircled Taiz, a major city linking northern and southern Yemen with the Red Sea coast, after cutting a vital supply route to the southern port city of Aden.

The Saudi-led coalition said on Monday that 100 fighter jets had participated in the offensive and claimed to have destroyed 324 Houthi targets. The Houthis have retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory, including strikes on airports in Riyadh and Abha that killed several people, according to the Saudi authorities.

Riyadh has also secured military support from Türkiye and Pakistan under a collective defense agreement dubbed the ‘Muslim NATO’ that was signed in August.

The Yemen conflict escalated after the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year. Fighting largely subsided following a 2022 truce, before flaring up again this year.