A shocking Reuters report has revealed that Saudi Arabia carried out covert airstrikes inside Iran during the recent 40-day war. Citing Western and Iranian officials, Reuters claims the strikes were launched by the Saudi Air Force in retaliation for Iranian missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory, including oil facilities, military bases, and U.S.-linked sites.
Secret Tit-for-Tat Strikes
The report indicates that Riyadh quietly informed Tehran before the attacks, triggering intense backchannel diplomacy that helped prevent a wider regional escalation. This marks what could be the first known direct Saudi military action on Iranian soil.
Diplomatic Maneuvers
According to sources, the backchannel communications were crucial in de-escalating tensions. Both sides reportedly engaged in indirect talks through intermediaries to avoid a full-scale conflict. The strikes were carefully calibrated to send a message without provoking an all-out war.
Iran had previously launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, military bases, and locations linked to the United States. The Saudi retaliation was seen as a measured response to these provocations.
The revelations have raised concerns about the stability of the region, but analysts note that the covert nature of the operation and the subsequent diplomatic efforts may have averted a broader confrontation.
