Saudi Arabia intercepted three drones that “entered its territory from Iraqi airspace,” Saudi Arabia-based newspaper Arab News reported Monday.
The incident followed a drone attack in the area of Abu Dhabi’s Barakah nuclear plant on Sunday. The two attacks could be connected, although it was too early to tell.
Saudi Arabia’s “Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Turki Al-Maliki said that it would take the necessary operational measures to respond to any attempt to violate its sovereignty and security,” Arab News reported.
“Al-Maliki added it will also take action to ensure the safety of citizens and residents on Saudi territory,” the report said. “While hostilities during the Iran conflict have largely been scaled down since a ceasefire came into effect in April, drones have been launched from Iraq towards Gulf countries.”
Even though there is supposed to be a ceasefire with Iran, there have been rumors of renewed conflict in recent days. Therefore, it’s possible that Iranian-backed proxies, such as militias in Iraq, are preparing new attacks and testing new routes for their drones.
The militias in Iraq, which are usually called the Popular Mobilization Forces, or Hashd al-Shaabi, have been on alert over the past week due to reports in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times about Israel using two sites in Iraq as temporary bases for airstrikes.
The pro-Iranian militias have claimed to be patrolling the southern desert in Iraq near the Saudi border. This would position them to carry out drone attacks from the safety of the large desert south of Najaf.
Saudi Arabia condemns drone attack on UAE
Meanwhile, “Saudi Arabia has condemned a drone attack that targeted an electricity generator in the UAE located outside the perimeter of the Barakah nuclear energy plant in the Al-Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi,” Arab News reported. “The Foreign Ministry said the attack threatens regional security and stability, and expressed its solidarity with the UAE and support for all measures to preserve its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.”
There was widespread condemnation of the attack from Kuwait, Bahrain, and other countries.
“Kuwait said targeting peaceful nuclear energy facilities is a clear violation of international law and poses a risk to civilians, the environment and security,” Arab News reported.
The UAE also condemned the drone attack against Saudi Arabia, UAE-based news site Al-Ain News reported.