Saudi Arabia and UAE Carried Out Secret Military Strikes on Iran During War According to US and Western Officials

Saudi Arabia launched unpublicized airstrikes on Iranian territory in late March 2026, the first known direct Saudi military action on Iranian soil, according to two Western officials and two Iranian officials. The UAE also conducted strikes including an attack on a refinery on Iran Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf. The two Gulf states took contrasting approaches: the UAE adopted a hawkish stance while Saudi Arabia maintained diplomatic contact with Tehran, with subsequent Saudi threats leading to a de-escalation understanding between the kingdoms.