Saudi Arabian forces, in coordination with the US Central Command, carried out targeted strikes early Wednesday against sites linked to Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. The Saudi Ministry of Defense confirmed the operations were in retaliation for recent drone attacks on the Kingdom’s petroleum infrastructure. Furthermore, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the State of Qatar strongly condemned the continued drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia.
This marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, occurring shortly after an Iranian ballistic missile attack targeted a US military base in Jordan. Both Riyadh and Washington emphasized that the military action was aimed at deterrence, with Saudi Arabia reaffirming its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
