Saudi Arabia's defense ministry announced it intercepted and destroyed multiple drones launched from Iraq that were targeting oil facilities in the kingdom's Eastern Province and the capital, Riyadh. The ministry attributed the attacks to Iran-backed terrorist militias.
The drone attacks targeting Saudi oil facilities, attributed to Iran-backed militias launching from Iraq, underscore ongoing regional instability and pose a direct threat to global energy supplies. The incident highlights the complex geopolitical landscape involving Iran, its proxies, and Saudi Arabia, with potential implications for oil prices and international relations.
Saudi Arabia's defense ministry announced on Tuesday that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory, which were targeting oil facilities in the kingdom's Eastern Province and the capital, Riyadh. Ministry spokesperson Turki al-Maliki stated that "Iran-backed terrorist militias" were responsible for the attacks and that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to defend itself and its national capabilities. The kingdom demanded that Iraq take necessary measures to prevent its territory from being used as a launch point for such attacks. These incidents occur during a period of heightened regional tension, following 13 days of exchanges of fire between the US and Iran. Additionally, Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for drone attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, announcing a naval blockade on the kingdom's ports. Pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq have not claimed responsibility for recent attacks, but Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations had previously accused such militias of launching attacks targeting their territory.