Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A Greek-operated Patriot air defence system in Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles launched from Iran on Thursday, Greece’s defence minister said. The missiles were targeting oil refineries, though the locations were not specified.
Minister’s statement
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said in a televised statement that the Greek-operated Patriot system intercepted Iranian missiles aimed at oil refineries in Saudi Arabia. “The protection of refineries and oil units is of great importance,” he said.
Greek deployment in Saudi Arabia
Greece has deployed a U.S.-made Patriot air defence battery, operated by Greek personnel, in Saudi Arabia since 2021 under an agreement to help protect the kingdom’s energy infrastructure. A Greek defence ministry official told Reuters that Thursday’s interception was the first time Greek personnel had operated the system.
Wider regional support and separate Saudi report
Other outside states have offered assistance in defending the Gulf against Iranian attacks launched in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28. France has assisted the United Arab Emirates under a longstanding defence agreement, and Australia has said it would send a surveillance aircraft and missiles to bolster UAE defences.
Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said a ballistic missile targeting the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, where there is an oil refinery, had been intercepted. It was unclear whether the missile was one of those intercepted by the Greek-operated system.
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