Greek Patriot systems deployed in Saudi Arabia were activated and successfully intercepted two ballistic missiles, according to sources from the Greek Ministry of National Defence.
The systems are part of the “Integrated Air Missile Defense (IAMD) Concept” mission, which supports the Kingdom’s air defence. Both incoming missiles were destroyed using two interceptor missiles.
Missile intercepted over Yanbu as key energy hub targeted
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence announced that it intercepted a ballistic missile heading towards the city of Yanbu, a critical energy export hub on the Red Sea.
An explosion was reported earlier at the port of Yanbu, currently a vital export route as Gulf shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces disruption. Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on Red Sea routes to transport oil and natural gas.
Separately, a drone strike hit the Aramco-ExxonMobil refinery in the area, with authorities assessing the extent of the damage.
Casualties reported in US and Israeli strikes in Iraq
In northern Iraq, a member of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an Iraqi paramilitary organisation, was killed and two others wounded in a joint US and Israeli airstrike.
A separate strike targeting the headquarters of the PMF’s Sixth Brigade in Salah al-Din province injured three additional individuals, one of them seriously.
Conflict footprint continues to expand
The latest developments highlight the widening geographical scope of the conflict, with military activity now stretching from the Gulf and Red Sea to Iraq.
Attacks on energy infrastructure and paramilitary targets are raising concerns over further escalation, as well as the potential impact on regional stability and global energy supply.
Source: CNN