Saudi Arabia secretly launched military strikes on Iran in late March in retaliation for attacks carried out on the kingdom during the ongoing Middle East war, according to a Reuters report citing two Western officials and two Iranian officials. The unpublicized operation reportedly marked the first known time Saudi Arabia directly carried out military action on Iranian soil, signaling a major shift in Riyadh’s response to regional threats.
According to the report, the strikes were conducted by the Saudi Air Force as “tit-for-tat” retaliation after Saudi territory was targeted during the conflict. Reuters said it could not independently confirm the exact Iranian targets that were hit.
The report stated that the broader regional war began after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, after which Iran allegedly launched missiles and drones at all six Gulf Cooperation Council states, targeting US military bases, airports, oil facilities, and civilian infrastructure. Iran also reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global trade routes.
The report from Reuters comes a day after the Wall Street Journal reported that the United Arab Emirates carried out military strikes on Iran as Gulf monarchies increasingly responded directly to Iranian attacks instead of relying solely on US military protection.
While the UAE reportedly adopted a more aggressive posture, Saudi Arabia simultaneously maintained diplomatic channels with Tehran. The report said Saudi officials warned Iran of further retaliation following the strikes, while intensive diplomatic engagement continued between the two countries.
A senior Saudi foreign ministry official did not directly confirm the attacks but reiterated Riyadh’s support for “de-escalation, self-restraint and the reduction of tensions” to preserve regional stability.
According to Reuters, the Saudi retaliation and subsequent diplomatic efforts ultimately led to an understanding between Riyadh and Tehran aimed at lowering tensions.
If these reports from the Reuters and WSJ are confirmed by officials, it would mean that the at least five nations were directly involved in the Middle East war.
Naman is a copy editor at Times Now, with over three years experience in covering US News, politics, global affairs, sports, and other domains. Apart...View More
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