Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced that it intercepted and destroyed more than 60 drones early Monday morning. In a series of statements posted on social media platform X, the ministry said a total of 61 drones were neutralized over the country’s eastern region. The latest wave included 12 drones destroyed after earlier incidents in which six and then five drones were shot down. The ministry stated that the air defense system was activated and successfully repelled all incoming drones.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions following Iran’s retaliatory attacks on February 28 against Israel and U.S. military bases across the Middle East. Those strikes were described as a response to earlier Israeli and American aggression, resulting in casualties among both U.S. troops and Iranian forces.

The Saudi announcement underscores the continuing volatility in the region, though the source did not specify who launched the drones or whether any damage occurred inside Saudi territory.