Saudi Arabia Intercepts and Destroys Six Cruise Missiles and Drones on Its Territory

Saudi Arabia said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed several cruise missiles and drones detected entering its airspace on Thursday, 5 March, local time. The region has been hit by a string of missile and drone attacks since the weekend as the confrontation between the United States and Israel against Iran intensified. The United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks against various Iranian targets since Saturday 28 February, which have so far killed hundreds, including Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated by striking targets in Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. troops, including Saudi Arabia. Saudi Defence Ministry spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki, in a statement carried by Al Arabiya on Thursday (5/3/2026), said three cruise missiles had been intercepted and destroyed by air defence systems outside the city of al-Kharj. Al-Maliki said air defence also intercepted three combat drones detected flying to the east of the al-Kharj area on the same day. In his statement, Al-Maliki added that another drone was intercepted and destroyed to the east of al-Jouf, in northern Saudi Arabia. A volley of missiles and drones has battered the Saudi region in recent days. On the previous day, Wednesday 4 March, Saudi reported two cruise missiles destroyed in Al-Kharj Province and one drone destroyed in the Eastern Province. At least nine drones were also destroyed that day after entering Saudi airspace. On Tuesday 3 March, Saudi announced its forces had intercepted and destroyed eight drones targeting Riyadh and Al-Kharj. Iran’s attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia also involved a drone strike directly on the U.S. Embassy compound in Riyadh. The drone attack was intercepted, but sparked a fire and minor material damage at the U.S. Embassy complex. The Saudi government has warned that it retains ‘full right’ to respond to Iran’s strikes targeting Riyadh and other areas of the country. Saudi Arabia described the series of Iranian attacks as ‘blatant and cowardly’.