RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has intercepted at least 439 hostile drones and 36 ballistic and cruise missiles since Iran began its retaliatory strikes against Gulf states following the US-Israeli attack on Tehran on February 28, according to a tally of announcements by the Saudi Defense Ministry.
The figures, compiled from official Saudi military statements and reports by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), underscore the scale and intensity of Iran’s aerial campaign against the region’s largest economy and its most critical energy infrastructure.
The interceptions span multiple waves of attacks that have kept Saudi air defenses on near-constant alert for nearly three weeks.
About 278 of the drones were launched toward the Eastern Province, home to many of the Kingdom’s oil refineries, followed by Shaybah, a major oilfield located in the Empty Quarter. Most of the missiles were launched at Al-Kharj, 80 km southeast of Riyadh, where the Prince Sultan Air Base is located.
Across the Gulf, Iran has launched hundreds of additional projectiles at neighboring states.
