Saudi Arabia Intercepts Cruise Missiles and Drones Entering its Territory
Saudi Ministry of Defence announced that the country’s air defence has intercepted a missile attack in the southeastern region of the capital, Riyadh, on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, local time. A series of drone attacks was also repelled within Saudi territory on the same day.
“Two cruise missiles have been intercepted and destroyed in the Al-Kharj Province,” the Saudi Ministry of Defence said, as reported by Al Arabiya on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
In a separate statement, the Ministry also announced interceptions of drone attacks in its airspace. “Nine drones have been intercepted and destroyed as soon as they entered the Kingdom’s airspace,” the statement said.
On Wednesday morning, the Ministry reported that it had intercepted and destroyed a drone detected in the Eastern Province.
The series of missile and drone strikes have pounded Saudi territory as Iran targets Gulf states hosting United States military assets, in an effort to retaliate for the coordinated US and Israel strikes since the weekend.
On Tuesday morning, Saudi Defence spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malki announced that Saudi forces had intercepted and destroyed eight drones targeting Riyadh and Al-Kharj.
Iran’s attacks on targets in Saudi also included a drone strike directly on the US Embassy in Riyadh. Al-Malki said that although the air defence managed to thwart a number of threats, the US Embassy experienced “a limited fire and minor material damage”.
The Government of Saudi Arabia has warned that it reserves the “full right” to respond to Iranian attacks targeting Riyadh and other areas of the country. Saudi described the sequence of Iranian attacks as an “open and brazen cowardice” assault.
The warning was delivered at a Cabinet session on Tuesday night, chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who also serves as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, via videoconference.
“The Kingdom reiterates its full right to take all necessary actions to protect its security, territorial integrity, citizens, residents, and vital interests, including options to respond to these aggressions,” as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).