The official spokesman for the Ministry of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, announced on Saturday that the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces had successfully intercepted and destroyed three booby-trapped drones launched by hostile militias in a systematic and deliberate manner to target civilian objects and energy facilities in the Kingdom.
Al-Maliki explained that the air defenses were able to detect and intercept a hostile drone in the airspace east of Riyadh, in addition to intercepting and destroying two other drones in the Empty Quarter region that were heading to target the Shaybah oil field, stressing that these hostile operations were successfully thwarted without any human or material damage.
Targeting global energy security and the international economy
These hostile attempts to target the Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter are part of a series of attacks aimed at undermining the global economy. The Shaybah field is not merely a local oil facility; it is a cornerstone of the stability of the world's energy supply. Military and economic experts indicate that targeting such vital facilities transcends being an act of aggression against the Kingdom; it constitutes a direct threat to the security of oil exports, the freedom of global trade, and the international economy, which relies heavily on the stable flow of energy from the region.
Readiness of the Ministry of Defense and defense systems
This successful operation once again demonstrates the high efficiency and combat readiness of the Ministry of Defense and its armed forces in countering all aerial threats. The Kingdom possesses a sophisticated air defense system capable of detecting, tracking, and destroying hostile targets with high precision before they reach their intended targets. This swift and effective response reflects the Kingdom's resolute strategy to protect its territory, citizens, and residents, as well as its vital infrastructure, which is considered a red line in Saudi Arabia's defense doctrine.
A flagrant violation of international humanitarian law
These attacks targeting populated cities like Riyadh and civilian economic facilities constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and its customary rules, and amount to war crimes. The Kingdom has consistently affirmed its legitimate right to take all necessary and deterrent measures to protect its national assets, in accordance with international laws and conventions, to ensure that these militias and those behind them are deterred from continuing their attacks on regional and international security.
