Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have carried out unpublicized military strikes on Iran during the Middle East war. Saudi Arabia launched these attacks in retaliation for strikes carried out within the kingdom, according to Western and Iranian officials.
These actions mark the first time Riyadh is known to have directly conducted military operations on Iranian soil, suggesting a bolder strategy in defending itself. While reports indicate strikes were carried out on Iran's Lavan Island, the Gulf state has not publicly acknowledged these operations.
The military activity follows a 10-week war that has left Saudi Arabia vulnerable to attacks that pierced the U.S. military umbrella. The involvement of both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in these strikes had previously remained unknown.