AFP, Feb 6, 2016- Riyadh has left open the possibility of deploying soldiers, saying it would “contribute positively” if the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in Syria decides on ground action.
The fate of Saudi-backed Syrian armed opposition groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad is also a major concern for Riyadh.
“I think Saudi Arabia is desperate to do something in Syria,” said Andreas Krieg of the Department of Defence Studies at King’s College London.
“This is a problem for Saudi and Qatar as they have massively invested into Syria via the moderate opposition as their surrogate on the ground,” said Krieg, who is also a consultant to Qatar’s armed forces.
Russia, which along with Saudi Arabia’s regional rival Iran is a major Assad ally, has meanwhile accused Turkey of “preparations for an armed invasion” of Syria.
On Saturday, Damascus issued warning to both Riyadh and Ankara against any military intervention on the ground.
The Saudi-backed opposition umbrella group, the High Negotiations Committee, says it will not return to peace talks which recently collapsed in Geneva unless its humanitarian demands are met.
“The Saudis believe that the chance of a peaceful solution for the Syrian crisis is very limited,” said Mustafa Alani of the independent Gulf Research Centre.
“They don’t see that there is a real pressure on the regime to give major concessions… They think eventually it will have to end in the battlefield.
“Turkey is enthusiastic about this option (of ground troops) since the Russians started their air operation and tried to push Turkey outside the equation,” Alani added.
He said the Saudis are serious about committing troops “as part of a coalition, especially if the Turkish forces are going to be involved”.
Turkey and Saudi already belong to a US-led coalition which officially has 65 members. It has been bombing IS in Syria and Iraq, as well as training local forces to fight the extremists.
“Saudi and Qatar have already networks on the ground,” Krieg said, viewing Doha as a link between Riyadh and Ankara as relations improve.
On Friday, US Central Command spokesman Pat Ryder welcomed Saudi Arabia’s willingness to send soldiers against IS.
The United States has been calling on coalition members to do more.
In November, the United Arab Emirates said it was also ready to commit ground troops against jihadists in Syria.