ISTANBUL

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 56 drones that entered the kingdom’s airspace since early Friday, including one that attempted to approach the high-security diplomatic area in the capital Riyadh.

The ministry said in a series of posts on the US social media company X that air defenses intercepted the drones at different times after they entered Saudi airspace, without specifying the exact locations of most interceptions.

In its latest statement, the ministry said air defenses intercepted and destroyed three drones, one in the Eastern Province and two in the Al-Kharj governorate.

It also announced the downing of a “hostile drone while attempting to approach the Diplomatic Quarter” in Riyadh.

The ministry later said three more drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Al-Kharj governorate and the Empty Quarter desert, shortly after announcing the interception of two drones in Al-Kharj.

Saudi air defenses have also intercepted and destroyed 24 drones in the Eastern Province, the ministry said.

Seven drones targeting the Eastern and Central regions of the kingdom were also intercepted, according to the ministry.

It said earlier that defense systems intercepted and destroyed 16 drones after they entered Saudi airspace.

On Thursday evening, the Defense Ministry said it intercepted 53 drones and destroyed five ballistic missiles within 24 hours.

The ministry did not identify who launched the drones, but the attacks coincide with strikes launched by Iran against several Arab countries in the region since Feb. 28, following Israeli-US attacks on Iran.

Iran has said it does not target specific countries but rather “US bases and interests in the region,” though the attacks have caused damage to civilian facilities, including airports, ports, and other buildings.