#SITREP #Saudi | In the past 24 hours, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed 65 drones and 7 ballistic missiles across 21 official statements and alerts. The incidents were reported in the Riyadh region, the Eastern Province, Al-Jawf, the Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali), and Al-Kharj governorate.

The Eastern Province saw the largest number of interceptions. Air defenses destroyed 41 drones in several incidents. The region is also home to aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery and export terminal; Abqaiq oil processing plant; Khurais oil field facilities; Safaniyah offshore field; Juaymah export terminal; Tanajib gas plant; Uthmaniyah and Shedgum plants in the Ghawar field; Jubail industrial and petrochemical complexes. Eastern province is one of the key energy hubs in the kingdom.

In the Riyadh region, 4 drones were intercepted. Other incidents involved both Riyadh and the Eastern Province together, where 19 drones were destroyed.

In Al-Jawf, one drone was intercepted and destroyed.

In the Empty Quarter, which includes the Shaybah oil field operated by Aramco and stretches along Saudi Arabia’s borders with Oman and Yemen, two separate incidents were reported. Each involved one intercepted drone, for a total of two drones.

Saudi authorities also reported missile attacks targeting Al-Kharj governorate, where air defenses intercepted seven ballistic missiles in two incidents.

At the same time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for a missile strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj, saying it targeted US forces stationed there. However, the IRGC also stated that ten drone attacks on Riyadh and the Eastern Province were not linked to Iran.

Based on the directions of past attacks and the types of systems used, analysts often point to the Houthi movement in Yemen or Iran-aligned Iraqi militia groups operating under the Islamic Resistance umbrella as possible sources of drone and missile launches. No group has formally claimed responsibility for the specific attacks mentioned in the Saudi defense statements.

Separately, the FIA announced that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula One Grands Prix will not take place in April because of the ongoing security situation in the Middle East. The decision was made after consultations with Formula One Group, local promoters, and regional member clubs. The Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy rounds scheduled for the same period will also not be held on their planned dates.

These are difficult days for the Arab Gulf region and Saudi Arabia, but the interceptions also show the performance of the Royal Saudi Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, which stopped a hundreds of incoming drones and missiles over Saudi territory.