Ankara: Saudi Arabia said Monday evening that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 12 drones targeting an oilfield in the country's south. A Defense Ministry statement reported that the drones were shot down in Rub' al-Khali (Empty Desert Quarter) as they targeted the Shaybah oilfield in southern Saudi Arabia.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry mentioned in a later statement that nine drones heading toward the Shaybah oil field had been intercepted and destroyed. This new interception increased the total number of drones shot down by Saudi air defenses on Monday to 23.

Regional tensions have escalated since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28, resulting in more than 1,200 fatalities, including the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian authorities. In response, Tehran has conducted drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.