RIYADH: Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed several drones and a ballistic missile targeting key locations across the kingdom, defence ministry said, as tensions in the region continued to escalate.
Saudi forces thwarted an attempted attack involving two drones north of the capital Riyadh, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said.
The drones were intercepted and destroyed by air defence systems before reaching their intended targets, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday, citing Al-Maliki.
Footage shows Saudi air defenses intercepting and destroying a number of drones launched toward the Kingdom in recent days.#SaudiMOD pic.twitter.com/G41HjOsm1H
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) March 8, 2026
Drone destroyed in Al-Jouf
In a separate incident, Saudi forces intercepted and destroyed a drone east of the Al-Jouf region in northern Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of Defense spokesperson.
Major General Al-Maliki said the drone was detected and neutralised by air defence units, SPA reported on Monday.
Missile intercepted near Prince Sultan Air Base
Saudi air defences also intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, Al-Maliki said.
The missile was successfully neutralised before reaching the military installation, SPA reported on Sunday.
Drone shot sown near Shaybah Field
Another drone heading toward the Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter desert was intercepted and destroyed, the Saudi defence spokesperson said.
Al-Maliki confirmed the interception, adding that air defence systems acted swiftly to eliminate the aerial threat, SPA reported on Sunday.
Projectile strike causes casualties in Al-Kharj
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense said a military projectile fell on a residential site belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj Governorate.
The incident killed two Bangladeshi nationals and injured 12 residents, including 11 Bangladeshis and one Indian national, according to the directorate.
Authorities said the strike also caused material damage to the site.
The Civil Defense stressed that attempts to target civilian objects constitute a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law”.
It added that standard emergency protocols were immediately implemented following the incident, SPA reported on Sunday.
Kuwait intercepts missiles and drones
Meanwhile in neighbouring Kuwait, the Ministry of Defense said its air defence forces destroyed three ballistic missiles in southern parts of the country during the past 24 hours.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Colonel Saud Al-Atwan, said air defence units intercepted the missiles over southern Kuwait, SPA reported on Sunday.
Kuwaiti authorities also detected a wave of hostile drones entering the country’s airspace. Air defence systems and fighter jets from the Kuwaiti Air Force engaged several of them.
Some drones were destroyed, with debris falling to the ground, according to the ministry.
Two drones targeted fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport in the Subhan area, while another drone targeted the building of the Public Institution for Social Security in Kuwait City, Al-Atwan said.
No casualties were reported in the incidents.
Arab League condemns attacks
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the attacks and called on Iran to reconsider its policies.
Speaking via videoconference during an extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Council of the League of Arab States, Aboul Gheit urged Tehran to “review its policies and correct the strategic error it committed by attacking Arab countries,” SPA reported on Sunday.
He said the attacks were condemned by Arab governments and peoples alike, describing them as violations of international law and the principles of good neighbourliness.
Aboul Gheit said the strikes targeted civilians, facilities and civilian infrastructure, posing a threat to Arab national security.
He added that Arab states were not parties to the ongoing conflict and had previously rejected the use of their territories or airspace as launching points for military operations in an effort to spare the region the consequences of war.
The Arab League chief called on Iran to immediately halt the attacks and urged the international community, including the United Nations Security Council, to take measures to stop strikes on Arab territories.
