Saudi Arabia launched numerous covert military strikes on Iranian soil in late March, retaliating for attacks carried out during the ongoing Middle East war. According to Reuters, these previously unreported actions mark a significant escalation, with Saudi Arabia directly targeting Iran for the first time.
Key Takeaways
Saudi Arabia conducted covert military strikes on Iran in late March as retaliation for Iranian attacks during the ongoing Middle East war. These actions mark a significant escalation, with Saudi Arabia directly targeting Iran for the first time.
- Saudi fighter jets bombed targets linked to Tehran-backed Shi'ite militias in Iraq
- Kuwait also launched retaliatory strikes from its territory into Iraq
- Diplomatic efforts led to an informal de-escalation agreement before a broader ceasefire was announced on April 7
The strikes were conducted by the Saudi Air Force and are seen as a bold response to persistent Iranian attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council states, including civilian sites and oil infrastructure. The conflict has widened since U.S. and Israeli airstrikes began in February, drawing in regional powers like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which also carried out military strikes on Iran.
Despite the aggressive actions, diplomatic efforts between Saudi Arabia and Iran have led to an informal de-escalation agreement before a broader ceasefire was announced on April 7. According to The Guardian, this understanding helped reduce hostilities, though tensions remain high as both sides navigate their complex relationship.
In parallel developments, Kuwait's interior ministry announced the arrest of four individuals linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards who attempted to infiltrate Kuwait by sea on May 12. One member of Kuwait's armed forces was injured during clashes with the infiltrators. Kuwait summoned Iran's ambassador and handed him a protest note over what it described as the infiltration of Bubiyan Island by the Revolutionary Guards.
Bahrain’s interior ministry announced the arrest of 41 individuals linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on May 9. The ministry stated that security authorities uncovered a group linked to Iran's IRGC, and legal proceedings are under way against them. Additionally, Iraq and Pakistan have struck energy deals with Iran to facilitate oil and liquefied natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrating Tehran's growing control over regional trade routes.
The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is threatening to delay the market's return to normal until 2027. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser warned that if the situation continues until mid-June, it would take much longer for the oil market to rebalance and stabilize. The impact of the Iran war, including the effective closure of the strait, has been called the biggest disruption to the energy market in history.
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