Reuters/CCTV. Saudi Arabia reserves the right to take military actions if necessary, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said early Thursday morning, after the country's air defenses intercepted four ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh on Wednesday evening.
Foreign ministers from a number of Arab and Islamic countries had been holding a meeting on regional security and stability when the missiles were intercepted.
The meeting, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, brought together the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Pakistan, Türkiye, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Egypt.
Speaking at a press conference, Faisal gave a strong response to the attacks launched by Iran, saying the Saudi side will take necessary action if required and backfire.
"We'll backfire politically. We'll backfire, I believe, morally and certainly. As we have stated quite clearly, we have reserved the right to take military actions if deemed necessary. And if the time comes, the leadership of the kingdom will take the necessary decision. We will not shy away from protecting our country and our economic resources"
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said in a post on the social media platform X that four ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh were intercepted and destroyed, and "part of one ballistic missile fell near a refinery south of Riyadh."
Tensions have been inflamed in the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran starting Feb 28, with Iran retaliating by firing back with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets and bases across the region.
