Saudi Arabia Launched Covert Attacks on Iran Amid Regional War, Sources Claim

Jeddah. Claims have surfaced that Saudi Arabia secretly launched military attacks against Iran during the Iran war. News agency Reuters has stated this, citing two Western officials and two Iranian officials. 

According to the report, the Saudi air force launched counter-attacks in various locations inside Iran towards the end of March. These attacks were not previously made public. Sources indicate that this move was a response to Iranian attacks on Saudi soil.

If the claims are proven true, this would be the first known instance of Saudi Arabia directly conducting military action on Iranian soil. It has been analyzed that this signals Saudi Arabia becoming more aggressive against its main regional rival.

The report does not clearly state the target of the attacks. While a senior official from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not directly confirm the attacks, he stated that their old policy of reducing regional tension remains in place.

It is said that this war escalated after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28. The report mentions that Iran subsequently launched missile and drone attacks on all six Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Iran is reported to have targeted US military bases, airports, oil infrastructure, and civilian areas, and affected world trade by blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, it is also claimed that the United Arab Emirates has conducted military operations against Iran. This is analyzed as a sign that countries in the Gulf region are now not only in a defensive posture but have also engaged in direct counter-attacks.

However, Saudi Arabia is said to be maintaining diplomatic contact to avoid escalating tensions publicly. According to the report, regular dialogue is ongoing between Riyadh and Tehran at the ambassadorial level.