RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed several drones that attempted to target oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh, blaming “Iran-backed terrorist militias” operating from Iraq for the attacks.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said on Monday the attempted attacks took place over the past several hours and described them as terrorist acts launched from Iraqi territory.
“Air defences intercepted and destroyed a number of drones during the past hours that attempted to target petroleum facilities in the Eastern Region and Riyadh,” Major General Turki Al-Maliki.
The Defence Ministry spokesperson clarified that these terrorist attempts were launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iranian-backed terrorist militias, affirming the Kingdom’s legitimate right to defend itself and its capabilities, and its retention of the right to respond at the appropriate time and place.
وزارة الدفاع: اعتراض وتدمير عدد من المسيّرات قادمة من الأراضي العراقية.
صرح المتحدث الرسمي باسم وزارة الدفاع اللواء الركن تركي المالكي أن الدفاعات الجوية اعترضت ودمرت عددًا من المسيّرات خلال الساعات الماضية والتي حاولت استهداف منشآت بترولية بالمنطقتين الشرقية والرياض.
وأوضح… pic.twitter.com/Y7g2beUK0s
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) July 27, 2026
Al-Maliki said the Kingdom has the legitimate right to defend its security, people and vital infrastructure, stressing that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place.
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attacks carried out by Iran-backed militias in Iraq using drones.
#بيان | تعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة المملكة العربية السعودية بأشد العبارات لما تعرضت له من اعتداءاتٍ مستنكرة بطائرات مسيرة أطلقتها المليشيات التابعة لإيران في العراق. pic.twitter.com/6HOKOlh44w
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) July 27, 2026
The ministry reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s determination to safeguard its security and sovereignty, deter aggression and respond to the sources of the attacks.
It also called on the Iraqi government to take all necessary measures to ensure that Iraqi territory is not used as a launchpad for attacks against the Kingdom.
