Report: Saudi Arabia to fund US-backed militias in Syria to confront Iran

Saudi Arabia has agreed to finance Arab forces backed by the US in Syria to confront the Iranian expansion efforts in northeastern Syria, Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

The paper said Saudi and American officials held talks in the Syrian province of Al-Hasakah during which the Saudi delegation agreed to finance the training of the Sanadid forces, as well as the Syrian Elite Forces, the military wing of the Syrian Al-Ghad party headed by Ahmad Al-Jarba.

According to the paper, “an American security company would train the two forces, provided that Arab youth are encouraged to join them later.”

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However, a source from Al-Sanadid Forces denied holding any meetings with the American or Saudi delegations, describing the report as “absolutely inaccurate”.

He told the paper that since their founding, the Al-Sanadid Forces have not received any support from Saudi Arabia or any other country, noting that the forces’ mission has been clear since its establishment, which is to protect the Syrian people from terrorism.

Meanwhile, local residents in the Deir Ez-Zor countryside confirmed that the Syrian Elite Forces no longer have any active presence on the ground, after most of their members left for Turkey, revealing that the forces’ leadership announced their disengagement from Al-Ghad movement and have informed the region’s residents.