Saudi Arabia’s military has shot down three explosive-laden drones launched by Iran, as tensions escalate across the Gulf region following a similar attack on a UAE nuclear plant.
Saudi Arabia’s air defence forces intercepted three Iranian attack drones on Sunday, the kingdom’s ministry of defence has said.
“Three unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted and destroyed after entering Saudi airspace,” the ministry said in a statement.
A defence ministry spokesman, Major-General Turki al-Maliki, said the drones had been launched from Iraqi territory.
Saudi Arabia “reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place and will take and implement all necessary operational measures to counter any attempt to infringe upon the sovereignty and security of the kingdom’s citizens and residents,” al-Maliki also added.
Earlier on Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry condemned a drone attack on the United Arab Emirates, in which one unmanned aircraft caused a fire near the Barakah nuclear power plant.
According to a statement by the UAE defence ministry, “two drones were successfully intercepted, while the third struck an electricity generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant in the Al Dhafra region.”
