Inside Saudi Arabia’s first direct strike on Iran: How a secret ‘tit-for-tat’ operation forced a shaky peace

Iran attacks declined after late-March strikes

According to the report, Saudi Arabia informed Tehran about the strikes through diplomatic channels and warned of further retaliation if attacks continued. This was followed by intensive backchannel engagement between the two countries, eventually leading to an informal understanding to de-escalate tensions.

F-15SA fighter jets are seen during a graduation ceremony and air show marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of King Faisal Air College in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (REUTERS File)

Saudi officials did not directly confirm the strikes. However, a senior Saudi foreign ministry official reiterated Riyadh’s position favouring “de-escalation, self-restraint and the reduction of tensions” to ensure regional stability.

The report also said the United Arab Emirates carried out separate military strikes on Iran, signalling that Gulf monarchies had begun responding more aggressively after coming under repeated attacks.

Saudi Arabia continued diplomatic engagement with Iran

While the UAE reportedly adopted a more hawkish approach, Saudi Arabia continued diplomatic engagement with Tehran even as tensions escalated. Iran and Saudi Arabia, long-time regional rivals backing opposing sides in conflicts across the Middle East, restored diplomatic ties in 2023 under a China-brokered agreement.

Reuters reported that Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia declined sharply after the late-March escalation. A tally of Saudi defence ministry statements showed more than 105 drone and missile attacks between March 25 and 31, dropping to just over 25 in the following week.

However, tensions persisted. Saudi Arabia later accused Iraq-based groups of launching projectiles at the kingdom, summoning Baghdad’s ambassador in protest.