RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it intercepted several drones and ballistic missiles targeting key areas of the kingdom, including a strategic oil field, as regional tensions escalated and Gulf states reinforced air defences around critical energy infrastructure.
The defence ministry said two drones were intercepted and destroyed while approaching the Shaybah oil field. Five additional drones were also intercepted in separate incidents, according to statements posted by the ministry on X.
المتحدث الرسمي لـ #وزارة_الدفاع: اعتراض وتدمير أربع مسيّرات في المنطقة الشرقية. pic.twitter.com/GjNlhO9xrI
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) March 11, 2026
The Shaybah oil field, a key part of Saudi Arabia’s oil production network, lies near the border with the United Arab Emirates and is operated by energy giant Aramco.
Saudi authorities also said air defences intercepted seven ballistic missiles in separate incidents targeting the kingdom’s eastern region and the Prince Sultan Air Base. According to AFP, an American soldier stationed at the base was injured in an earlier attack on March 1 and died a week later.
The United Arab Emirates also reported a new missile and drone incident on Wednesday. The country’s defence ministry said its air defence systems responded to an unspecified number of missiles and drones, but did not provide details about the location or intended target.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Tuesday they had launched a new wave of missile strikes at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, as well as US-linked targets in the region.
Iranian media also reported that the Guards targeted US military facilities in Bahrain and Iraqi Kurdistan. In a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, the force said several ballistic missiles were launched toward the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain and other facilities in the Kurdish region of Iraq.
Authorities in Bahrain have reported previous waves of drones and missiles reaching the country, resulting in two deaths.
Iranian news agencies Fars and Mehr also reported that missiles were launched toward a US military facility in Kuwait. According to the reports, two missiles were fired toward Camp Arifjan, located south of Kuwait City.
Kuwaiti authorities have not commented on the reports, but the country’s National Guard later said eight drones approaching Kuwait were intercepted and downed.
