Saudi Arabia: We seek no escalation and will not hesitate to respond to any aggression
Saudi Arabia and the United States announced they had launched “precision strikes against terrorist militias loyal to Iran” in Iraq, in response to attempts to target Saudi oil facilities in recent days.
Official spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, stated that, following the statements issued by the Ministry of Defense on Monday and Tuesday last, which confirmed that “air defenses intercepted and destroyed a number of drones that attempted to target petroleum facilities in the Eastern and Riyadh regions, and that these terrorist attacks originated from Iraqi territory and were carried out by terrorist militias loyal to Iran,” and reaffirming the Kingdom’s inherent right to self-defense and its resources, as well as its right to respond at the appropriate time and place, and in accordance with the divine verse: “So whoever attacks you, attack him in like manner as he attacked you,” and based on the right of self-defense guaranteed by international law under Article 51 of the UN Charter, the Saudi Armed Forces, in coordination with U.S. Central Command, carried out targeted strikes against specific targets belonging to those militias located on the territory of the Republic of Iraq, which were linked to the attacks on petroleum facilities in the Kingdom, early yesterday.
He stated that the Kingdom “emphasizes that it does not seek escalation, but it will respond to any aggression it faces.”
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that, following its statements issued on Monday and Tuesday last regarding the attacks suffered by the Kingdom, condemning the drone attacks launched by Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, and reiterating the Kingdom’s resolve to deter aggressors and its right to respond, the Kingdom affirmed that this aggressive approach adopted by the terrorist militias loyal to Iran in Iraq came at a time when the Kingdom was making efforts to contribute to ending escalation in the region, in order to preserve its security and stability. However, these terrorist militias chose an irresponsible escalatory path, violated international law, and ignored the requirements of Islamic brotherhood, which demand adherence to the principles of good neighborliness.
The Kingdom affirmed that the strikes carried out by the Saudi Armed Forces, in coordination with U.S. Central Command, against specific targets in Iraqi territory, linked to the attacks on petroleum facilities in the Kingdom, were carried out in exercise of the right of self-defense guaranteed by international law under Article 51 of the UN Charter. It also emphasized that it does not seek escalation, but if it faces any attacks, it will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to preserve the sovereignty of the Kingdom and protect its citizens and resources.
For its part, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had conducted, in cooperation with the Saudi Armed Forces, “precision strikes in Iraq on July 28 against terrorists loyal to Iran, whom the Iranian Revolutionary Guard had directed to attack U.S. forces and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.”
CENTCOM added in a statement that “U.S. and Saudi fighter jets launched raids targeting logistical sites and weapons depots belonging to terrorists across eastern Iraq, as a strong response to more than 30 drone attacks directed by the Revolutionary Guard,” affirming that these “unprovoked attacks failed to achieve their objectives.”
The command noted that between February and April 2026, more than 600 attack attempts targeting civilians and U.S. facilities were carried out by terrorist militias loyal to Iran in Iraq.
CENTCOM warned that “the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its terrorist proxies must halt these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response.”
Earlier, CENTCOM accused Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces of launching multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempt to launch a surprise attack on U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East, affirming that all Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted and that U.S. forces remain vigilant and on maximum alert.
It stated that its forces had rerouted 20 commercial vessels, disrupted the movement of two ships, and boarded two others to ensure full compliance.
In Jordan, the official spokesperson for the Armed Forces – the Arab Army – stated that air defenses, as part of the monitoring and tracking system, dealt with five missiles coming from Iran early yesterday that targeted the Kingdom’s territory, and they were intercepted and shot down in accordance with established rules of engagement.
He affirmed that the Jordanian Armed Forces continue to fulfill their duty to protect the Kingdom’s airspace and maintain its security and sovereignty, and will not tolerate any threat to the nation’s security and the safety of its citizens.
