Saudi Arabia Carried Out Unreported Air Strikes on Iran, Officials Say

Mintesinot Niggusie

Saudi Arabia conducted multiple unreported air strikes on Iranian territory in late March during the Middle East conflict, according to two Western officials briefed on the matter and two Iranian officials, marking what is believed to be the first known Saudi military action directly targeting Iran.

The operations were carried out by the Saudi Air Force in retaliation for attacks on the kingdom, one Western official said, describing them as “tit-for-tat strikes in retaliation for when Saudi Arabia was hit.” Officials said the strikes were not publicly acknowledged and were followed by Saudi communication to Tehran, informing Iranian authorities after the attacks were carried out.

Those briefings were followed by intensified diplomatic engagement between the two countries, along with Saudi warnings of possible further retaliation, according to the officials. The exchanges ultimately resulted in an informal understanding between Riyadh and Tehran to reduce tensions, they said.

An Iranian official confirmed that both sides agreed to de-escalate, saying the objective was to “cease hostilities, safeguard mutual interests, and prevent the escalation of tensions.” The reported de-escalation took place in the week leading up to a ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran on April 7, according to the officials.

Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group, said the developments suggested pragmatic calculations on both sides in managing escalation risks. He said the sequence would demonstrate “not trust, but a shared interest in imposing limits on confrontation before it spiraled into a wider regional conflict.”

Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have long been defined by regional rivalry. A China-brokered agreement in 2023 restored diplomatic relations between the two states and included arrangements that helped secure a ceasefire between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, which has largely held since.