Riyadh: Air defenses in Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed six drones in the country's Eastern Region on Friday evening, a Defense Ministry spokesman said in a statement.

According to Anadolu Agency, earlier in the day, the ministry reported intercepting a total of 56 drones that had entered the kingdom's airspace since early Friday. Among these, one drone attempted to approach the highly secure diplomatic area in the capital city, Riyadh.

These interceptions occur amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East following a joint attack by Israel and the US on Iran on February 28. The attack resulted in approximately 1,300 fatalities, including the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In response, Tehran executed drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf nations hosting US military assets. These retaliatory strikes have led to casualties, damage to civilian infrastructure, and have impacted global markets and aviation.