Saudi Arabia intercepts 18 drones targeting country’s eastern region
Saudi Arabia intercepted 18 drones targeting its eastern region amid a regional escalation involving Iranian retaliatory strikes following a US and Israeli attack that killed Iran's Supreme Leader and over 1,200 others.
- Middle East
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 06:54 | 12 March 2026
Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry announced Thursday that its forces intercepted 18 drones targeting the country's eastern region.
The ministry issued the statement in a post on the US social media company X's platform, citing a spokesperson. No other details were provided.
The developments came as a regional escalation has flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28 that has so far killed more than 1,200 people, including Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and injured over 10,000 others, according to Iranian authorities.
Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.
- IEA: Iran war sparks biggest oil market disruption in history
- Iran says it ‘cannot accept’ US calls for negotiations as ‘war crimes’ persist
- Afghanistan says 4 civilians killed in fresh clashes with Pakistan
- At least 30 killed in strikes on PMF headquarters in western Iraq
- Attack on oil tankers off Iraq kills one, rescue operation ongoing