The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced on Monday evening, March 9th, the success of its forces in intercepting and destroying nine drones in the Empty Quarter region, which were en route to the Shaybah oil field.
The official spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, explained in a brief statement that the interception operation was carried out with high efficiency without recording any human or material damage, confirming the full readiness of air defense systems to deal with various threats. The Ministry had announced earlier the same day the interception and destruction of four other drones in the same area, raising the total number of drones that were shot down within a few hours to thirteen, in a noticeable escalation targeting vital facilities. In a related context, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterated its confirmation that what Iran is doing towards the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and a number of Arab, Islamic, and friendly countries does not align with the logic of wisdom and prioritizing the common good, warning that expanding the circle of escalation will make Tehran the biggest loser in it. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed, in an official statement, that the continuous Iranian attacks warn of further escalation and will have a significant impact on regional relations, whether in the short or long term, confirming the Kingdom's adherence to its right to defend its security, sovereignty, and protect its vital facilities. This development comes amid the ongoing targeting by Iranian missiles and drones of a number of Arab countries, which has been met with widespread condemnation and international calls to stop these attacks, to avoid the region sliding towards wider confrontations that threaten its security and stability.
