Saudi Arabia carried out unreported airstrikes on Iran in late March in retaliation for attacks on its territory, marking the first known direct Saudi military action on Iranian soil. The strikes were followed by diplomatic engagement and an understanding to de-escalate, with Iran curtailing direct attacks on the kingdom. The conflict, which began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, has drawn in Gulf states, including the UAE. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group said the sequen

Saudi Arabia carried out unreported airstrikes on Iran in late March in retaliation for attacks on its territory, marking the first known direct Saudi military action on Iranian soil. The strikes were followed by diplomatic engagement and an understanding to de-escalate, with Iran curtailing direct attacks on the kingdom. The conflict, which began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, has drawn in Gulf states, including the UAE. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group said the sequence “shows pragmatic recognition on both sides that uncontrolled escalation carries unacceptable costs.”