Saudi Arabia Bans US from Using Bases and Airspace for Project Freedom

A source from AFP, as reported on Friday (8/5/2026), stated that US access to Saudi airspace and bases will continue, but for other uses. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly emphasised that it will not permit its airspace to be used for attacking Iran. US media reports on Thursday (7/5) indicated that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, spoke directly with Trump and rejected allowing US forces to use Saudi airspace and bases for those operations. “Saudi Arabia does not permit flights for the freedom operation (Project Freedom),” one source told AFP. “Saudi Arabia opposes the operation because it believes it will only escalate the situation and will not succeed,” the source said. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, Rayed Krimly, stated that the kingdom “maintains its position in support of de-escalation and negotiation efforts” in a social media post. These comments come as US President Donald Trump stated that the ceasefire with Iran remains in effect despite Iran’s attack on three American destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said it had conducted strikes on Iranian military targets in response, although Tehran accused Washington of initiating the firefight.