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.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced key deadlines for Umrah pilgrims during the current season. The ministry stated that the last day to issue Umrah visas will be the first day of Shawwal, corresponding to March 20. Pilgrims must enter Saudi Arabia by the 15th of Shawwal, or April 3, and depart by the first day of Dhul Qadah, April 18.

The ministry reaffirmed that only those with valid Hajj visas may perform Hajj, and Umrah visas cannot be used for that purpose. Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah praised Umrah companies for their cooperation during Ramadan, highlighting their role in assisting stranded pilgrims and facilitating their return. He emphasized the importance of adhering to scheduled airport arrivals and updating departure information through the Nusuk Makkah platform.

Officials also reviewed performance indicators for the Umrah season and discussed preparations for the third Umrah and Visit Forum in 2026, aimed at strengthening partnerships and improving pilgrim services in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has denied any involvement in the recent drone attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh and its eastern province. According to Saudi authorities, ten drones attempted to strike these areas, but their air defense systems intercepted and destroyed them. The IRGC’s public relations office issued a statement on Sunday clarifying that the Islamic Republic of Iran had no connection to the alleged attacks.

The IRGC further urged the Saudi government to investigate the true source of the drone operations. The statement came amid heightened regional tensions and follows Saudi reports of thwarted aerial assaults. No additional details were provided about the origin of the drones or any potential perpetrators.

The denial from Iran’s military branch may influence ongoing regional security discussions, though the source does not specify any immediate diplomatic or military responses.

The United States Embassy in Riyadh has issued an urgent directive for American citizens currently in Saudi Arabia to leave the country as soon as possible using commercial flights. The embassy released a security alert on March 15, 2026, emphasizing that it is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East.

According to the embassy, the safety of US citizens is receiving the highest priority from Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and the US State Department. The advisory was issued in response to ongoing tensions and conflicts across the Middle East, which have raised concerns about potential risks to foreign nationals in the region.

The embassy’s warning underscores heightened security awareness and the possibility of further developments in the regional conflict landscape, though no specific threats or incidents were detailed in the alert.

Five US Air Force refueling aircraft were damaged in an Iranian missile attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing two US officials on Friday, March 13. The aircraft were hit during recent Iranian strikes but were not completely destroyed and are currently under repair. No casualties were reported in the incident, and Reuters was unable to independently verify the report.

The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions as Iran continues missile operations in Gulf countries. In response, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas urged Tehran to refrain from targeting neighboring states while reaffirming Iran’s right to self-defense against Israel and the United States. This marked Hamas’s first such appeal to Iran, emphasizing adherence to international law.

Hamas also called on the international community to work toward an immediate end to the ongoing conflict, following two years of devastating war in Gaza.

Five US Air Force refueling aircraft were damaged in an Iranian missile attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing two US officials. The incident occurred while the aircraft were stationed at the base, and repair work is currently underway. No casualties were reported, and the planes were not completely destroyed.

The report noted that the strike was part of a recent Iranian missile assault targeting the Saudi facility. The damage was limited to the aircraft, and the situation remains under control. The publication did not provide further details on the timing or broader military context of the attack.

The absence of fatalities and the ongoing repair efforts suggest that operations at the base may resume once maintenance is completed, though no official timeline was mentioned in the report.

Saudi Arabia announced that it intercepted 56 drones that entered its airspace on Friday morning, according to Al Jazeera. The country’s defense ministry stated that one of the drones attempted to enter the diplomatic area in Riyadh, which is under tight security. The ministry did not specify who launched the drones.

A day earlier, on Thursday evening, the Saudi defense ministry reported intercepting 53 drones and five missiles within a 24-hour period. The latest incidents highlight a continuing pattern of aerial threats targeting Saudi territory, though the source of the attacks remains undisclosed.

The ministry has not provided further details about the origin or purpose of the drones, leaving uncertainty about the actors behind the repeated incursions.

Saudi Arabia announced that it intercepted three additional drones, bringing the total number of downed drones to 21 within a few hours. The country’s Ministry of Defense reported that after destroying 18 drones in the eastern region, three more attempted attacks were thwarted. According to multiple posts on social media platform X, two of the drones were shot down over the Empty Quarter desert as they approached the Shaybah oil field.

The ministry further stated that two more drones were destroyed in the eastern airspace around the same time. The report did not specify who launched the drones or the exact timing of the incidents. The announcement comes amid a series of regional security concerns, including recent attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and reports of Iranian strikes on Israel.

The developments highlight ongoing instability in the Gulf region, where drone and maritime attacks have raised alarm over energy infrastructure and shipping security.

China’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, Zhai Jun, visited Saudi Arabia as part of Beijing’s mediation efforts to halt the ongoing war involving Iran. During his visit, he met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and expressed China’s willingness to work with Riyadh to maintain peace and stability in the Gulf region.

Zhai described China as a good friend and partner of Saudi Arabia and voiced deep concern over the current regional tensions. He emphasized that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Gulf countries must not be violated and condemned any attacks targeting civilians or non-military sites. The envoy reiterated Beijing’s call for an immediate end to the ongoing military operations.

The visit underscores China’s growing diplomatic engagement in the Middle East amid escalating conflict and efforts to position itself as a mediator in regional disputes.

A Bangladeshi expatriate named Mosharraf Hossain, aged 40, from Kirtankhola village in Sakhipur upazila of Tangail, was killed in a missile attack in Saudi Arabia’s Al Kharj city on Sunday evening. The missile strike, reportedly launched by Iran, hit the camp of Al-Towaik Baladiya Company just before iftar. Mosharraf, who worked there as a cleaner, died on the spot. His cousin Zakir Hossain, also a Saudi expatriate, confirmed the incident.

Mosharraf had been working in Saudi Arabia for eight years to support his family. He left behind his wife, Kabari Akter, and two sons—Mahim, a ninth-grade student, and Mihan, a first-grader. The family last spoke with him by phone before the attack. Local MP Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan expressed condolences via video conference, promising support for the bereaved family. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdullah Al Rony also visited the family home and said efforts were underway with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare to repatriate the body.

Officials assured that the affected family would receive necessary assistance once the repatriation process is completed.

Saudi Arabia has sharply condemned Iran’s recent attacks, warning that continued aggression will heighten regional tensions and ultimately harm Iran itself. In a statement from Riyadh, the Saudi Foreign Ministry denounced assaults targeting Gulf countries and other Arab, Muslim, and friendly nations, calling them unacceptable and unjustifiable. The ministry affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to take necessary measures to defend its sovereignty, citizens, and residents against any aggression.

The statement said that attacks on airports, oil facilities, and other civilian sites clearly aim to undermine security and stability, violating international law and conventions. Saudi Arabia also rejected Iran’s claim that Saudi territory had been used to launch or support military operations, labeling the allegation false. According to Riyadh, the aircraft in question were patrolling to protect Saudi and Gulf Cooperation Council airspace from Iranian missile and drone threats.

The ministry further cautioned that continued Iranian attacks would deepen tensions and negatively affect current and future relations, stressing that Iran’s actions show no wisdom or intent to prevent escalation.

The United States has instructed all non-emergency officials and family members of its embassy staff in Saudi Arabia to return home due to escalating security risks linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East. The US State Department issued a notice on March 8, citing a deteriorating security situation following a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory over the past week.

The advisory also urged American citizens planning to travel to Saudi Arabia to reconsider their decisions. It warned of potential threats including Iranian drone and missile strikes, risks to US installations, armed conflict, terrorism, travel restrictions, and social media limitations.

The tensions follow the collapse of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington in late February, after which the US launched “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran and Israel began “Operation Roaring Lion.” In retaliation, Iran has targeted US military bases, embassies, and oil facilities across the Middle East, including multiple attacks in Saudi Arabia over the past week.

A United States soldier has died after being wounded in an Iranian attack on a US base in Saudi Arabia, according to the US Central Command. The soldier was critically injured during the March 1 assault and succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night. The incident was part of ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, where Iranian forces launched initial strikes earlier this month.

Central Command confirmed that the death brings the total number of US soldiers killed in Operation Epic Fury to seven. The command also stated that the soldier’s identity will be released 24 hours after notifying family members. The attack occurred amid a major military operation currently underway in the region.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates that tensions remain high as multiple Iranian attacks have recently targeted areas in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

At least two people were killed and 12 others injured in an attack on a residential building in Saudi Arabia’s Al Kharj city, according to the country’s Civil Defense agency on Sunday. The victims include one Bangladeshi and one Indian national, though their identities have not yet been released. The attack involved a projectile strike on the building, the agency said in a post on X.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following a series of retaliatory attacks between Iran, Israel, and the United States. On February 28, Israel and the U.S. jointly carried out strikes in Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with missile and drone attacks on Tel Aviv and U.S.-linked facilities across Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Authorities have not yet provided further details about the perpetrators or the motive behind the Al Kharj attack, and investigations are ongoing.

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has caused severe disruption to international air travel, leaving thousands of Muslim pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia. Many flights have been canceled due to unsafe airspace, creating uncertainty and distress among travelers trying to return home. Some have been forced to cancel their planned Umrah trips altogether.

Indonesian and Malaysian citizens are among the hardest hit. Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, said about 58,860 Indonesian pilgrims remain stranded, facing high accommodation and transport costs. The Indonesian government is negotiating with Saudi authorities and airlines to reduce hotel and ticket expenses and has asked around 60,000 more citizens to postpone their Umrah trips until April. Malaysia’s Consul General in Jeddah, Mohamad Zuraif Raja Abdul Kadir, reported that 1,600 Malaysians are stranded, with a 24-hour operations room set up to assist them.

The crisis has become both a humanitarian and logistical challenge, with pilgrims expressing financial and emotional strain. The war’s impact on the region’s air routes has also disrupted global connectivity and raised concerns over upcoming Hajj travel.