Saudi Arabia carried out a series of undisclosed strikes inside Iran in response to attacks on the kingdom during the Middle East conflict, according to two Western officials and two Iranian officials familiar with the matter.
The strikes, which have not been previously reported, mark the first known instance of Saudi Arabia directly launching military action on Iranian territory, highlighting Riyadh’s increasingly assertive stance against its main regional rival.
The attacks, launched by the Saudi Air Force, were assessed to have been carried out in late March, the two Western officials said. One said only that they were “tit-for-tat strikes in retaliation for when Saudi (Arabia) was hit.”
Saudi Arabia, which has a deep military relationship with U.S., has traditionally relied on U.S. military for protection, but the 10-week war has left the kingdom vulnerable to attacks that have pierced the U.S. military umbrella.
Gulf Arab States Began Hitting Back
The Saudi strikes highlight how the conflict has quietly expanded across the Middle East since U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran began on February 28.
Iran has since targeted all six Gulf Cooperation Council states with missiles and drones, hitting U.S. bases as well as civilian infrastructure, airports and oil facilities, while also disrupting global trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE has also reportedly carried out strikes on Iran, revealing that Gulf states hit by Iranian attacks have begun retaliating directly.
However, their approaches differ. The UAE has taken a tougher line against Tehran, while Saudi Arabia has tried to prevent further escalation and maintained communication with Iranian officials.
Strikes, Then De-Escalation
According to Iranian and Western officials, Saudi Arabia informed Tehran before carrying out the strikes, followed by intense diplomatic engagement and warnings of further retaliation, eventually leading both sides to agree on de-escalation.
Analysts say the move reflected a shared understanding in Riyadh and Tehran that an uncontrolled conflict would carry heavy regional costs.
The informal de-escalation began shortly before Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire on April 7.
Despite their long rivalry and support for opposing groups across the region, Iran and Saudi Arabia restored ties in a China-brokered deal in 2023. Since then, a ceasefire between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen has largely held, helping Riyadh avoid major disruptions to its oil exports during the conflict.
Iran Curtailed Direct Hits On Kingdom, Sources Say
By late March, diplomatic talks and Saudi threats of stronger retaliation helped both sides move toward de-escalation, Western officials said.
Attacks on Saudi Arabia then dropped sharply, with later strikes believed to have come from Iraq rather than directly from Iran, suggesting Tehran had scaled back its involvement.
Tensions briefly rose again in early April after fresh drone and missile attacks, prompting Riyadh to consider further retaliation before diplomacy eased the situation.
(With inputs from Reuters)
