Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry says it has intercepted multiple drones launched at the kingdom from Iraq.

In a statement, defence ministry spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki says that air defences “intercepted and destroyed a number of drones during the past hours that attempted to target petroleum facilities in the Eastern Region and Riyadh”.

“These terrorist attempts were launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iranian-backed terrorist militias, affirming the kingdom’s legitimate right to defend itself and its capabilities, and its retention of the right to respond at the appropriate time and place,” the statement adds.