RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that its air defences intercepted and destroyed three drones that entered the Kingdom’s airspace from Iraqi territory.
Defence ministry spokesman said the drones had entered on Sunday morning and that the ministry “reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place”.
The official spokesperson for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said three drones were intercepted and destroyed after entering the Kingdom’s airspace from Iraqi territory.
صرح المتحدث الرسمي باسم وزارة الدفاع اللواء الركن تركي المالكي أنه في صباح يوم الأحد الموافق (17 مايو 2026م) تم اعتراض وتدمير 3 مسيّرات بعد دخولها المجال الجوي للمملكة قادمة من الأجواء العراقية.
وأكد اللواء المالكي على أن وزارة الدفاع تحتفظ بحق الرد في الزمان والمكان المناسبين،… pic.twitter.com/80hZw8z7BU
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) May 17, 2026
According to the statement, the drones were detected and neutralised after crossing into Saudi airspace on May 17, 2026.
Major General Al-Maliki stressed that the Ministry of Defence reserves the right to respond “at the appropriate time and place” to any threat targeting the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and the safety of its citizens and residents on its territory.
He added that Saudi Arabia would take all necessary operational measures to confront any attempt to violate its airspace or endanger the safety of citizens and residents.
