Saudi Arabia Intercepts 3 Ballistic Missiles Aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base
Prince Sultan Air Base Among Sites Targeted in Latest Attack
RIYADH — Saudi air defenses intercepted three ballistic missiles and two drones aimed at the Kingdom early Friday, marking the latest in a series of strikes against strategic sites.
The Ministry of Defense announced the successful neutralization of the incoming threats, stating the missiles targeted Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj governorate. One drone was shot down in the Eastern Province while another was intercepted in Al-Kharj.
The attack follows a pattern of escalating hostilities. Just one day earlier, the ministry confirmed the destruction of three cruise missiles targeting Al-Kharj, hours after stopping a drone attack over the Ras Tanura refinery in the Eastern Province.
Al-Kharj, located approximately 80 kilometers southeast of Riyadh, serves as an important industrial zone for the Kingdom.
The frequency of attacks has increased in recent days. On March 3, Saudi defenses successfully intercepted eight drones near Riyadh and Al-Kharj. The US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by drones that same day, resulting in a limited fire and minor structural damage.
Iran’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, issued a statement Thursday categorically denying his country’s involvement in the embassy strike.
Regional Conflict Widens
This latest escalation follows a major air campaign launched by Israel and the United States against Iran last Saturday, which has prompted retaliatory strikes by Tehran against regional assets.
Since February 28, the conflict has expanded across the Gulf region. All GCC member states have reported aggression, with Iranian strikes in the Gulf region claimed to have killed at least nine people.
The maritime sector has suffered severe disruption. A missile strike on a commercial vessel off Oman has contributed to a backlog of 150 tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, where oil traffic has fallen by 86 percent.
Saudi Arabia issued a sharp condemnation Thursday following Iranian drone and missile attacks on Azerbaijan and NATO-protected Turkish airspace, describing the acts as “blatant and cowardly.”
GCC and Saudi Response
In an extraordinary ministerial meeting held in Riyadh on March 1, the Gulf Cooperation Council affirmed the collective right of member states to defend their territories against what it termed “treacherous Iranian aggression.”
Following a Cabinet session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on March 3, Saudi Arabia declared it reserves the “full right” to respond. The Cabinet emphasized the Kingdom would take all necessary measures to safeguard its territory, citizens, and residents from these persistent strikes.
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