Syria pledges solidarity with Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks
What happened
Syria's Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia during a phone call with his Saudi counterpart on October 11. According to a statement from the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Damascus affirmed its support for Riyadh in confronting what it described as escalating Houthi attacks on civilian facilities. The call represents a continued diplomatic alignment between the two countries following recent economic cooperation agreements.
Context and assessment
The statement reflects Syria's diplomatic realignment with the Gulf following years of regional isolation. Syria and Saudi Arabia have moved toward normalization, evidenced by the same day's announcement of their first oil supply agreement in 14 years through Saudi Aramco. The Syrian government's explicit backing of Saudi positions on Houthi attacks indicates Damascus's willingness to align with Gulf security concerns. This occurs amid broader Middle Eastern tensions, with the Houthis conducting periodic maritime and aerial operations that Saudi Arabia and its partners consider threats to regional stability. Syria's public commitment suggests either genuine security concerns or tactical alignment with reinstated regional partnerships.
Sources and confidence
Reported via X account @Osint613, citing Syrian Foreign Ministry statements. Single-source reporting limits independent verification; however, the statement aligns with confirmed diplomatic activities the same day, including Saudi-Syrian economic agreements and ministerial contacts. Confidence of 6.5 reflects official Syrian government attribution but lack of corroborating outlets. Confirmation from Saudi sources or additional regional media would strengthen confidence.
Location
Damascus, Syria. The statement originated from Syria's Foreign Ministry in the capital. Damascus sits in southwestern Syria in Rif Dimashq Governorate, approximately 188 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean coast, positioned along key routes connecting Syria to Lebanon and the broader Levant.
Related events nearby
- Syrian Central Bank announces first oil product supply deal between Syrian Petroleum Company and Saudi Aramco.2026-10-11 20:00 UTC · Statement · Damascus, Syria
- Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shbani and Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan held phone talks reviewing regional2026-10-11 18:19 UTC · Statement · Damascus, Syria
- Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaybaani met LNA Deputy Commander General Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi. Discus2026-10-11 13:53 UTC · Diplomacy · Damascus, Syria
- Family members of detainees held in Iraqi prisons staged a protest at the Iraqi Embassy in Damascus, demanding2026-10-11 13:42 UTC · Statement · Iraqi Embassy, Damascus, Syria
- Citizens of Al-Dumayr block truck traffic on bypass road, protesting repeated traffic accidents and demanding 2026-10-11 08:39 UTC · Statement · Al-Dumayr, Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria
▶ View this event on the live map
Intel Mapper aggregates open-source reports from monitored Telegram and X channels, geolocates them, cross-checks duplicates across sources and assigns a confidence score. Entries are updated as new confirmations arrive. Read how we verify events.