Saudi Arabia intercepts three drones entering its airspace from Iraq
Riyadh, May 18
The Saudi Ministry of Defence announced the interception of three drones after they entered the kingdom's airspace from Iraq.
The ministry's official spokesperson, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, said on social media platform X that the ministry reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place, Xinhua news agency reported.
He noted that it will take and implement all necessary operational measures to respond to any attempted attack targeting the kingdom's sovereignty, security, and the safety of its citizens and residents.
The Saudi ministry had announced in recent months the interception and destruction of a number of drones that entered the kingdom's airspace. The region has witnessed instability amid the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February. Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel as well as US allies in the Gulf, including the United Arab Emirates, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. US President Donald Trump later extended the truce indefinitely.
Last month, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry summoned Iraq's ambassador to Riyadh over what it described as continued attacks and threats targeting the Kingdom and other Gulf states using drones launched from Iraqi territory.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia on Sunday strongly condemned the drone attack on the United Arab Emirates that caused a fire outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant.
The UAE's defence ministry said it had "successfully" intercepted two drones, while a third struck an electrical generator near the nuclear facility in Abu Dhabi's al-Dhafra Region. The ministry said the drones entered from the "western border" but did not provide further details.
— IANS
Reader Comments
With all the chaos in the Middle East—US, Israel, Iran all involved—it's sad to see innocent infrastructure like a nuclear plant being targeted. 😔 The UAE and Saudi Arabia are our partners, and we know what it's like to face cross-border threats. India should offer to mediate or share surveillance tech like our radars to help prevent such incidents.
Let's not forget that these drones could have caused a major disaster at the Barakah nuclear plant. The Saudi response seems measured so far, but they're right to summon the Iraqi ambassador. Iraq needs to control its airspace or face consequences. India has similar concerns with drones from Pakistan—technology is making these threats harder to handle.
The geopolitical angle here is wild—US, Israel, Iran, and now Gulf states are all entangled. Pakistan's mediation failed, Trump's truce is shaky. The drones from Iraq show how instability spreads like wildfire. I just hope Saudi Arabia's response doesn't drag the region into a larger war. India should stay neutral but offer support for de-escalation.
Honestly, the Saudi government's statement about 'responding at appropriate time and place' sounds like a warning. But what about addressing the root cause? Iran's strikes on UAE and the Strait of Hormuz closure show this is a proxy conflict. India relies heavily on Gulf oil—this directly affects our energy security. This is scary for us too. 😓
While I understand Saudi Arabia's frustration, the constant focus on retaliation isn't helpful. The ceasefire failed, and now we're seeing more attacks.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.