The ongoing turmoil in the Middle East has entered a new and dangerous phase as recently disclosed reports reveal that Saudi Arabia carried out a series of covert military strikes inside Iran, marking what is believed to be Riyadh’s first direct military attack on Iranian soil. According to two Western officials and two Iranian officials familiar with the matter, the Saudi Air Force launched the operations in late March in retaliation for missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory during the regional conflict. Although the exact targets of the strikes remain undisclosed, analysts believe the attacks signal a major shift in the Gulf kingdom’s security doctrine and its increasingly aggressive stance toward its longtime regional rival, Iran. For decades, Saudi Arabia relied heavily on the United States for military protection and regional security guarantees, but the recent ten-week conflict exposed vulnerabilities that even American defense systems were unable to prevent. As a result, Riyadh appears to be moving toward a more direct and assertive military strategy to defend its territory and strategic interests. The revelations also indicate that the broader Middle East conflict expanded far beyond what was publicly known. Following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Tehran reportedly launched missile and drone attacks across all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, targeting not only American military bases but also civilian infrastructure, airports, and critical oil facilities. Iran was also accused of disrupting global trade by threatening and partially restricting movement through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital energy corridors. A separate report published by The Wall Street Journal further claimed that the United Arab Emirates also conducted military operations against Iranian targets, suggesting that Gulf monarchies affected by Iranian attacks have quietly begun retaliatory measures of their own. However, the responses of Saudi Arabia and the UAE were not entirely identical. The UAE reportedly adopted a tougher and more confrontational approach aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran, while Saudi Arabia simultaneously pursued diplomatic channels to prevent a wider regional escalation. Communication between Riyadh and Tehran reportedly continued through the Iranian ambassador stationed in Saudi Arabia, reflecting an effort to balance military retaliation with diplomatic engagement. A senior Saudi Foreign Ministry official reiterated the kingdom’s longstanding position in favor of de-escalation, regional stability, restraint, and the protection of economic prosperity across the region. Western diplomatic sources also indicate that by the end of March, behind-the-scenes negotiations and warnings of further retaliatory attacks helped push both Saudi Arabia and Iran toward an informal understanding aimed at reducing tensions. According to figures cited from Saudi defense sources by Reuters, Saudi Arabia faced more than 105 missile and drone attacks between March 25 and March 31, while the number significantly dropped during the first week of April. Saudi officials later concluded that some of the final attacks before the ceasefire were launched not directly from Iran but from Iraqi territory, suggesting that Tehran-backed allied groups continued military activities even as direct Iranian involvement appeared to decrease. Riyadh formally protested these incidents by summoning the Iraqi ambassador on April 12. Despite the broader ceasefire between Iran and the United States, tensions did not fully disappear. Additional drone and missile attacks struck Saudi Arabia on April 7 and 8, prompting Riyadh to consider further retaliatory measures against both Iran and Iraq. During this period, Pakistan reportedly moved fighter jets closer to Saudi Arabia in a show of support while simultaneously urging all sides to exercise restraint and prioritize diplomacy. Overall, the emerging details paint a picture of a rapidly expanding regional conflict that is no longer limited to Iran, Israel, and the United States. Gulf Arab states are now increasingly becoming active military participants in the confrontation, raising fears of prolonged instability, wider geopolitical escalation, disruptions to global energy markets, and serious consequences for international security and economic stability.
Saudi Arabia secretly attacked Iran
