Saudi Arabia Downs 24 Drones Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions

Saudi Arabia said on Friday that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 24 drones across multiple regions of the kingdom amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

A spokesperson for the Saudi Defence Ministry, Turki Al‑Maliki, said 23 of the drones were shot down over the Eastern and Central regions, including Al‑Kharj Province and the Rub’ al Khali desert, also known as the Empty Quarter.

According to the ministry, another drone was intercepted as it approached the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh.

Earlier reports from the ministry indicated that as many as 28 drones had been destroyed after entering Saudi airspace.

The incidents come amid an escalating regional confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The conflict, which intensified on Feb. 28, has seen Iran launch missile and drone attacks targeting several Arab countries, resulting in casualties and damage to infrastructure.