Saudi Arabia intercepts 27 drones launched towards the kingdom

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said its air defences intercepted and destroyed 27 drones launched towards the kingdom on March 20, WAM reported.

The IRGC publicly named Jubail and the SAMREF refinery as targets on March 18.

The military said 26 drones were shot down over the Eastern Province, the heartland of Saudi Arabia's oil industry and home to Saudi Aramco's (TADAWUL: 2222) main production and export facilities. A further drone was intercepted over the northern Al Jouf region.

The latest barrage brings the cumulative toll of Iranian aerial attacks on Saudi territory to more than 460 drones and dozens of ballistic missiles since the war began on February 28.

The Eastern Province has been a persistent target for Iranian strikes, with the Ras Tanura refinery struck by a drone on March 2 and repeated intercepts reported over the Jubail petrochemical complex.