Saudi Arabia condemns Iran's retaliatory attacks on US bases in Gulf countries

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned Iran’s latest military actions across the Gulf, confirming that Iranian forces directly targeted Riyadh and the kingdom’s eastern region in a significant escalation of hostilities.

According to a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, as reported by Al Jazeera, the attacks were successfully repelled by the kingdom’s air defence systems.

“These attacks cannot be justified under any pretext or in any way,” the statement said, adding that they occurred despite Iran being aware that the Kingdom had made clear it would not allow its airspace or territory to be used to launch operations against Iran.

The confirmation marks a critical development in the rapidly unfolding crisis, as Saudi Arabia moves from expressing solidarity with its Gulf neighbours to acknowledging that it has itself been directly targeted.

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The Saudi response comes amid a sharp escalation following coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel against multiple sites inside Iran.

Washington and Tel Aviv described their operation as a strategic effort to degrade Iran’s military capabilities, neutralise perceived threats, and change the Iranian government. Tehran, however, condemned the strikes as unlawful violations of its sovereignty and vowed a decisive response.

Within hours of the US–Israeli offensive, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, as well as US assets across the region. Air defence systems were activated in several Gulf capitals as explosions were reported and incoming projectiles intercepted.

Iran had warned that should it be attacked, it would consider American bases across the region as legitimate targets, causing the Middle Eastern countries to caution the US not to attack. The US ignored the caution of its Middle Eastern partners.

The confirmation that Riyadh and the eastern region were also targeted significantly heightens concerns about a broader regional conflict.

Saudi Arabia’s position reflects a delicate strategic balance. As a longstanding security partner of the United States, the Kingdom remains aligned with Washington’s regional defence posture.

At the same time, Riyadh has in recent years sought to ease tensions with Tehran after decades of geopolitical rivalry and sectarian competition.

This latest development places Saudi Arabia in a sensitive position, supporting its allies while managing direct security threats on its own soil.

The current confrontation builds on years of rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme, proxy conflicts across Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, and repeated flare-ups involving Israel and Iran.

Diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation have repeatedly faltered, leaving the region exposed to sudden and dangerous escalations.

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International reactions have been swift, with global powers urging restraint and a return to diplomatic engagement.

Analysts warn that continued hostilities could destabilise energy markets, disrupt global trade routes, and further inflame an already fragile regional security landscape.

With military exchanges intensifying and rhetoric hardening on all sides, the Middle East now stands at a critical juncture.

Whether diplomacy can regain traction before the situation spirals further remains uncertain, but the risks for Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, and the wider international community are now unmistakably high, as several air routes to and from the region are grounded.