Saudi Arabia launched covert attacks on Iran in March, Reuters reports
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Reuters reports Saudi Arabia carried out covert strikes on Iran in late March in response to attacks on its territory.
- The alleged exchange marked a rare direct escalation, followed by diplomatic contacts that helped ease tensions.
Saudi Arabia launched multiple covert strikes on Iran in response to attacks in the kingdom, according to a Reuters report citing two Western officials briefed on the matter and two Iranian officials.
The Western officials assessed the attacks were carried out in late March, according to Reuters.
The attacks mark the first time Saudi Arabia is known to have directly carried out an attack on Iranian soil.
Reuters says it was unable to confirm the specific targets.
The Western sources said that by the end of March, diplomatic contacts and the threat by Saudi Arabia to retaliate further led to an understanding to de-escalate, Reuters reported.
The informal de-escalation went into effect the week before the temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran was announced on April 7, Reuters said.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment and a senior Saudi Foreign Ministry official did not address directly whether strikes had been carried out.
