Saudi Arabia in coordination with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) struck pro-Iran “militia” targets in Iraq on Wednesday after drones attempted to attack Saudi oil facilities, the ministry of defense said.
“The Saudi Armed Forces, in coordination with the CENTCOM, launched precise strikes against targets belonging to those militias present on Iraqi territory that are linked to attacks on the Kingdom’s oil facilities,” Saudi Arabia’s ministry of defense said.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had reaffirmed its inherent right to defend itself and its national assets while reserving the right to respond at the time and place of its choosing,” Ministry of Defense, Spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, said.
The statement noted that although the Kingdom doesn’t seek any escalation, it will respond to any aggression that it is subjected to.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday saying that the actions taken by the pro-Iran militias “came at a time when the Kingdom was exerting every effort to deescalate tensions in the region.”
“Nevertheless, these terrorist pro-Iran militias chose a reckless path of escalation,” the statement added.
The foreign ministry also added that the strikes taken by the Saudi forces were based on the right to self-defense protected by international law.
Separately, a CENTCOM statement said that its forces along with Saudi Arabian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes in Iraq against “Iran-aligned terrorists” that the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
“US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours,” the statement said. “The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response.”
“To be clear, the IRGC directed attacks at our forces and our Saudi partners since over the weekend without any provocation. This is a clear message that we will not let those attempts go unanswered," CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins told Al Arabiya.
Saudi Arabia said late Tuesday that its air defenses intercepted and downed several drones launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-backed militias. In the Tuesday statement, al-Maliki said that the drones had attempted to target oil facilities in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.
The attacks came a day after drones launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-backed militias on Monday also attempted to target oil facilities in the Eastern Province and the Riyadh region.
Riyadh had called for the Iraqi government to prevent attacks from its territory, after which Baghdad said it had ordered an investigation.
Al Arabiya
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