ISTANBUL

Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that it intercepted and shot down a total of 26 drones in the Eastern Region since early morning, amid an ongoing regional escalation.

The announcement came in separate posts by the Saudi Defense Ministry through the US social media company X.

Hostilities in the region have escalated since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, so far killing around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

⁠Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.