Saudi Arabia launched multiple covert strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks carried out in the kingdom during the Middle East war, Reuters reports.
Citing two Western officials and two Iranian officials, Reuters said the attacks were launched by the Saudi air force and were believed to have been carried out in late March.
The attacks had not previously been reported, as Saudi Arabia, a United States ally, had publicly distanced itself from the conflict.
This marks the first time the kingdom is known to have directly carried out military action on Iranian soil. It remains unclear what the targets were.
A separate report by The Telegraph noted that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also launched attacks against Iran.
The UAE’s strikes reportedly took place “around the time” US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in the war after a five-week military campaign against Tehran.
Until these reports emerged, Iran had publicly claimed responsibility for attacking all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states with missiles and drones.
The Islamic Republic said its targets were US military bases, but civilian sites, airports, and oil infrastructure were also hit, while the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed, disrupting global trade.
Abu Dhabi said it maintained the right to respond to hostile attacks in a defensive manner but denied any active intervention against Tehran throughout the conflict.
However, the UAE’s armed forces, equipped with American helicopters and fighter jets, reportedly attacked an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Gulf at the start of April, according to the Wall Street Journal.
While the UAE took a more hawkish stance, seeking to impose a cost on Iran, Iranian and Western officials said Saudi Arabia alerted Tehran before carrying out its strikes.
The alert was followed by intensive diplomatic engagement and Saudi threats of further retaliation, which reportedly led to an understanding between the two countries to de-escalate the conflict.
According to a Reuters tally of Saudi defence ministry statements, Iran launched more than 105 drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia between March 25 and 31. The number reportedly fell to just over 25 between April 1 and 6.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have long been regional rivals, with both nations backing opposing groups in conflicts across the Middle East.
Both countries reportedly began de-escalating tensions in the week before Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire on April 7.
