Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates separately carried out strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks conducted against them during the war in the Middle East, two current and one former senior US officials said.
It is the first known time that the two countries have directly attacked Iran. The strikes, which were unannounced, underscored how both monarchies were becoming more assertive in defending their territory against the Islamic Republic, the officials said.
All three spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters. They declined describing the targets that were struck by the Gulf Arab nations or the exact dates of the attacks.
Neither the Saudi nor the Emirati government has acknowledged carrying out the attacks. Both countries host US military installations but have maintained publicly that they are bystanders to the war, engaged only in defensive actions. The strikes would instead appear to make them direct combatants.
The Saudi government’s Centre for International Communication, which handles media inquiries, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the Emirati foreign ministry.
