Saudi Arabia strikes Iran-backed militia targets in Iraq after drone attacks
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Saudi Arabia conducted precision strikes against Iran-backed militia targets in Iraq on Wednesday, coordinated with the U.S. Central Command.
- The operation followed intercepted drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, which the Ministry of Defense stated originated from Iraq and were carried out by Iran-backed militias.
- Saudi Arabia affirmed its right to self-defense and stated it does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression.
Saudi Arabia's armed forces, in cooperation with the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), executed precision strikes against Iran-backed militia targets within Iraq on Wednesday. The Ministry of Defense announced the operation was a direct response to recent drone attacks targeting the Kingdom's oil facilities.
The operation followed attempted drone attacks on oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh region on Monday and Tuesday, which Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed. He said those attacks originated from Iraqi territory and were carried out by Iran-backed terrorist militias.
According to Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, the strikes followed attempted drone attacks on oil facilities in the Eastern Province and the Riyadh region on Monday and Tuesday. Saudi air defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed these drones, which originated from Iraqi territory and were attributed to Iran-backed terrorist militias.
The military operation was conducted in line with Saudi Arabia's inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and targeted militia sites connected to the attacks on the Kingdom's energy infrastructure.
Al-Malki stated that the military operation was conducted in accordance with Saudi Arabia's inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The targeted sites were specifically linked to the militias responsible for the attacks on the Kingdom's energy infrastructure.
He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's right to defend its people, national capabilities and critical infrastructure, and said the Kingdom retains the right to respond to aggression at a time and place of its choosing.
The ministry reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to defending its citizens, national capabilities, and critical infrastructure. It asserted that the Kingdom reserves the right to retaliate against aggression at a time and place of its choosing, emphasizing that while Saudi Arabia does not seek escalation, it will respond decisively to any attack.
The ministry stressed that Saudi Arabia does not seek escalation but will respond to any attack against the Kingdom.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Saudi Gazette in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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