Saudi forces say they intercepted and destroyed multiple drones targeting oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh, with the Defence Ministry blaming "Iran-backed" militias operating from Iraqi territory. Riyadh's Foreign Ministry urged Baghdad to prevent its soil being used for such strikes. Yemen's Houthi militia later claimed responsibility, saying the targets were oil supply routes to Yanbu, but those claims could not be independently verified. Saudi officials said the kingdom reserves the right to respond.
Saudi Forces Intercept and Destroy Drones Targeting Oil Facilities and Riyadh; Houthis Claim Strike
FILE PHOTO - A view of the King Salman Park construction site on the site of the former Riyadh airport. (is associated with: «Saudi Arabia reports drone attacks targeting oil facilities and Riyadh») Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Saudi authorities said on Monday they intercepted and destroyed multiple drones reportedly aimed at oil installations in the kingdom's Eastern Province and at the capital, Riyadh.
The Saudi Defence Ministry spokesman, Turki al-Maliki, blamed the strikes on "Iran-backed terrorist militias" he said were operating from Iraqi territory. Al-Maliki reiterated Riyadh's right to defend its territory and infrastructure and said the kingdom "reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place."
The ministry initially provided no details about any damage or casualties. To date, no Iraq-based group has claimed responsibility and the Iraqi government in Baghdad had not immediately commented.
Riyadh's Foreign Ministry condemned the incident and urged Baghdad to take all necessary measures to ensure Iraqi soil is not used as a launch platform for attacks against Saudi targets.
Shortly after Riyadh's statement, Yemen's Houthi militia claimed responsibility for drone strikes on several Saudi oil infrastructure sites, saying the strikes hit "sensitive points" involved in moving crude from eastern fields toward the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The Houthis said the action was in response to what they described as Saudi drones entering Yemeni airspace; those assertions could not be independently verified at the time.
On Saturday the Houthi group also claimed responsibility for a separate attack on Saudi territory, saying it was retaliation for Saudi strikes on Houthi positions. Reports said dozens of missiles and drones were involved in that incident, and state-owned Saudi Aramco facilities were named among the targets.
These incidents come amid an extended period of regional tensions tied to Iran, with previous attacks originating from pro-Iranian groups in Iraq as well as from Iranian sources. Saudi authorities and international observers say investigations and monitoring are ongoing.
Note: Claims of responsibility and accounts of incursions have not been independently verified. Verification and attribution remain subject to official investigations.
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