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Saudi Arabia Faces Sustained Waves of Iranian Attacks
(Substack) Maj. (ret.) John Spencer - Over the past two weeks, Saudi Arabia has faced sustained waves of Iranian attacks aimed at military bases, energy infrastructure, and civilian areas. Saudi air defenses have intercepted hundreds of Iranian drones and dozens of missiles during repeated barrages. On March 12 alone, Saudi forces intercepted 33 Iranian drones, while other days saw 60 or more drones shot down in a single day. Multiple attack waves have targeted critical infrastructure and military facilities across the kingdom. These include 21 drones and five missiles launched toward the Shaybah oil field, five missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, and repeated drone incursions east of Riyadh. Saudi defenses have also intercepted barrages ranging from 18 drones to more than 50 drones within hours, as well as coordinated attacks involving 31 drones and three ballistic missiles. On March 3, two Iranian drones struck the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy compound in Riyadh. Taken together, these attacks amount to hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles launched toward Saudi Arabia, representing one of the most sustained aerial attacks the kingdom has faced in recent years. Iran has repeatedly demonstrated both the capability and the willingness to strike Saudi Arabia directly, recalling the 2019 attacks on Saudi oil facilities that temporarily disrupted a significant portion of the world's energy supply. The writer is chair of urban warfare studies at West Point's Modern War Institute.