Saudi Arabia Intercepts Iranian-Backed Drones and Iran Warns Ukraine of Unforeseen Consequences for Caspian Sea Strikes
Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses destroyed several drones launched by Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq. The drones targeted oil facilities in the kingdom's Eastern Province and the capital, Riyadh. Saudi Arabia condemned the aggression and urged the Iraqi government to take measures to prevent its territory from being used as a launch point. Simultaneously, Iran warned of "unforeseen" consequences after Ukraine launched long-range strikes against vessels in the Caspian Sea. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the attack as illegal and unjustified, noting that one Iranian ship exploded, with one sailor allegedly killed by Israeli forces—wait, the source says one sailor allegedly killed by the attack. Oil prices fell sharply on Monday as a user-friendly pause in hostilities between the United States and Iran boosted hopes for a ceasefire. The administration announced that the US refrained from launch further strikes over the weekend, while Iran agreed to halt retaliatory attacks. This de-escalation eased concerns regarding global energy supplies and shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.