Saudi Arabia says intercepted dozens of drones entering its airspace

Saudi Arabia intercepted dozens of drones entering its airspace, the defence ministry said on Friday, as Iran carries out attacks on oil-rich Gulf countries in response to US-Israeli strikes.

"Twelve drones were intercepted and destroyed after entering Saudi airspace," a spokesperson for the defence ministry posted on X.

A wave of nine and then seven drones had also been shot down, they said in separate statements.


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Saudi Arabia has been targeted by drones in recent days, with authorities confirming they had shot down several headed towards the crucial Shaybah oil field this week.

Iran has vowed to disrupt global energy markets in response to the US and Israeli strikes, which began at the end of last month, killing the Iranian supreme leader and plunging the Middle East into war.

Retaliatory Iranian missile strikes and drone attacks have brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global crude passes almost to a halt.