FILE- A Patriot missile battery is seen near Prince Sultan air base at al-Kharj . AFP
Defence ministry spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the drones had entered on Sunday morning. He added that the ministry “reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place” and will take “all necessary operational measures” to counter any threat to the kingdom’s sovereignty, security, and the safety of its citizens and residents.
On April 12, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry summoned Iraq’s ambassador to the Kingdom over continued attacks and threats targeting Gulf states through drones launched from Iraqi territory.
The ministry “stressed the kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of attacks originating from Iraqi territory against the kingdom and the Gulf states”.
Iraq became caught in the middle of the US-Israeli war on Iran, with Iran-backed militias launching attacks on US bases and diplomatic facilities in the region. However, those groups announced on April 8 that they would suspend operations following the declaration of a temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Attacks on the Gulf states, which Tehran says it has targeted for harbouring US military and economic interests, have dramatically reduced since the temporary truce took effect, but sporadic strikes have continued.
On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates said a drone sparked a fire at its Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, one of three UAVs that entered from the "western border direction".
UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash appeared to refer to Iran and its regional proxy groups when he condemned the attack, which ignited a fire but caused no injuries or impact on radiation levels.
"The terrorist targeting of the Barakah clean nuclear power plant, whether carried out by the principal perpetrator or through one of its agents, represents a dangerous escalation," he wrote on X.
Iranian-backed armed groups equipped with drones are based in Iraq, while Tehran's allies in Yemen -- the Houthi rebels -- also possess combat-grade UAVs.
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