"...then attack them with the same severity with which they attacked you."
- The Kingdom affirmed that it does not seek escalation and will respond to any aggression it faces.
- The strikes, coordinated with CENTCOM, were launched from Iraqi territory in response to attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
- Gulf and Arab support for all Saudi measures to protect its security and sovereignty.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense carried out “precise, targeted strikes” against targets belonging to militias located on Iraqi territory and linked to attacks on the Kingdom’s oil facilities, in coordination with the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
In a statement, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, the official spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defense, announced that “in continuation of the statements issued by the Ministry of Defense on Monday and Tuesday last week, which confirmed that air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones that attempted to target oil facilities in the Eastern and Riyadh regions, and that these terrorist attacks were launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iran-aligned terrorist militias, 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 has aggressed against you, then aggress against him in the same manner as he has aggressed against you,’ and based on the right to self-defense guaranteed by international law under Article 51 of the UN Charter, the Saudi Armed Forces, in coordination with the US Central Command, carried out precise, targeted strikes today, Wednesday, against targets belonging to those militias present on the territory of the Republic of Iraq and linked to the attacks on the Kingdom’s oil facilities.”
He added, “The Kingdom emphasizes that it does not seek escalation, but it will respond to any aggression it faces.”
For its part, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release that the aggressive approach of the militia 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.
The statement noted that “this Iran-aligned terrorist militia chose an irresponsible escalatory approach, violated international law, and ignored the requirements of Islamic brotherhood, which demand adherence to the principles of good neighborliness.”
The Foreign Ministry reiterated that “Saudi Arabia does not seek escalation, but if it faces any attacks, it will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, protect its citizens, and defend its resources.”
GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi stated that “GCC countries stand united alongside Saudi Arabia and support all measures it takes to protect its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
He condemned “the continued terrorist attacks launched by Iran-aligned militias in Iraq against the Kingdom.”
He stressed that the continuation of these attacks undermines international efforts aimed at de-escalation and consolidating security and stability in the region.
Qatar expressed its strong condemnation of the attacks, describing them as “a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and a threat to its security, stability, and territorial integrity, as well as a breach of international law, the UN Charter, and the principles of good neighborliness.”
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Doha’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all legitimate measures taken to preserve its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
It declared its full solidarity with the Kingdom and its absolute support for all measures taken to protect its sovereignty, security, and stability, including its right to respond to sources of aggression and deter aggressors, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, emphasizing that “Saudi Arabia’s security and stability are an integral part of Bahrain’s national security and the collective security of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.”
Egypt strongly condemned the targeting of oil facilities in the Kingdom and the attacks on Jordan, considering them “unacceptable assaults on the sovereignty of states and on civilian and vital facilities, a blatant violation of international law, and a serious escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region and undermines global energy security.”
It reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and its support for all measures taken by the two countries to safeguard their security, stability, sovereignty, and vital assets, reiterating its firm rejection of any aggression targeting civilian facilities or critical infrastructure, or infringing upon the sovereignty of Arab states.
