Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that its armed forces, in collaboration with the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), executed targeted strikes early on Wednesday. These strikes were aimed at Iran-backed militia targets in Iraq, which are linked to recent attacks on petroleum facilities in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and the capital, Riyadh.
According to Emirates News Agency, Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, stated that the strikes were a direct response to assaults launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-backed terrorist militias. The actions undertaken were justified as part of the Kingdom's inherent right to self-defense, as recognized under international law pursuant to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Al-Malki further emphasized that the Kingdom "does not seek escalation. However, should it be subjected to any further attacks, it will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and protect its citizens and national assets."