439 Drones, 36 Missiles: Inside Iran’s 3-Week Strike on Saudi Arabia
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia has intercepted at least 438 drones and 36 ballistic and cruise missiles since Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Gulf states following the US-Israeli attack on Tehran on February 28, according to official Saudi military statements.
The staggering figures underscore the scale and intensity of Iran’s aerial campaign targeting the region’s largest economy and its critical energy infrastructure. The interceptions span multiple waves of coordinated attacks that have kept Saudi air defenses on near-constant alert for almost three weeks.
Around 278 drones were directed at Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, home to many of the kingdom’s oil refineries, with additional waves targeting Shaybah, a major oilfield in the Empty Quarter. Most missiles struck Al-Kharj, southeast of Riyadh, where the Prince Sultan Air Base is located.
The bombardment extends across the entire Gulf region. The UAE has borne the heaviest assault, with its defense ministry reporting 1,672 intercepted drones, 314 ballistic missiles, and 15 cruise missiles since the conflict began. Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain have also come under repeated fire, while Oman, despite historical ties with Iran, has been struck, including attacks on its port of Duqm.
Iran has denied deliberately targeting civilian and economic infrastructure, claiming its operations target only US military assets and Israeli-linked facilities. Gulf governments have rejected these assertions, with several summoning Iranian ambassadors and lodging formal diplomatic protests.
The sustained aerial campaign has prompted an emergency meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh on Wednesday, where officials will coordinate responses and discuss regional peace and stability efforts.
With no ceasefire agreement in sight and air defenses across the Gulf facing relentless pressure, analysts warn the window for diplomatic de-escalation is rapidly closing.
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