Saudi Arabia officially condemned Friday’s deadly Israeli strikes on Iran, describing them as "blatant aggression" against a “brotherly nation,” according to a statement by the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry.
Saudi Arabia officially condemned Friday’s deadly Israeli strikes on Iran, describing them as "blatant aggression" against a “brotherly nation,” according to a statement by the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry.
"The Kingdom expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, a brotherly country, which violate its sovereignty and security, and constitute a clear breach of international laws and norms," the statement read.
While the language was aligned with diplomatic protocol and regional expectations, analysts suggest that behind closed doors, Riyadh views the Israeli strikes quite differently.
Saudi officials reportedly see the overnight Israeli air raids as a strategic correction delivered to a long-time rival. Despite recent efforts to thaw relations, Saudi Arabia continues to consider Iran a regional threat — particularly over its nuclear ambitions and its role in supporting proxy militias across the Middle East.
For Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel’s bold military response may be perceived as a containment of Iranian influence — a move that aligns, albeit unofficially, with Saudi strategic interests.
Though Riyadh has not publicly endorsed the strikes, its silence beyond the initial condemnation could speak volumes about the deeper geopolitical calculations at play in the Gulf.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday it had pulled its last remaining inspectors from Iran as a standoff over their return to the country's nuclear facilities bombed by the United States and Israel deepens.
Hezbollah has begun a major strategic review in the wake of its devastating war with Israel, including considering scaling back its role as an armed movement without disarming completely, three sources familiar with the deliberations say.
The U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the conflict, an official familiar with the negotiations said on Wednesday.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
