Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman urged Iran on Saturday to “avoid miscalculation” following a series of missile and drone attacks on key kingdom facilities. The warnings came as Saudi air defences successfully intercepted the assaults, heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
In statements issued early Saturday, the Saudi Defence Ministry said it had thwarted repeated threats. A ballistic missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base — housing US military personnel southeast of Riyadh — was “intercepted and destroyed”, a ministry statement on X said.
The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) later confirmed a second missile strike on the same base, quoting a defence spokesperson that it too was neutralised with no damage reported.
Drones also targeted critical energy sites. The ministry reported intercepting attacks on the Shaybah oil field near the UAE border, where the projectiles were “intercepted and destroyed”. Another drone was shot down east of Riyadh in a separate incident.
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia disclosed at least two drone strikes on the strategic Ras Tanura refinery in the east, a vital hub processing much of the kingdom’s crude exports. While interceptions limited damage, the incidents underscored vulnerabilities in Gulf oil infrastructure amid the escalating Iran-US proxy war.
After meeting Pakistan’s military chief, Prince Khalid posted on X that the two had “discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them”. “We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation,” he added.
The latest flare-up follows US-Israeli strikes against Iran a week ago, which Tehran blamed for igniting retaliatory actions across the Gulf. Iran has since launched assaults on multiple targets, including US bases and energy infrastructure.
