Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry informed on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 that its air defense system has shot down 19 drones over the Eastern Province. These drones were intercepted and destroyed in different stages on Tuesday and early morning. The ministry said that the security forces are fully prepared to deal with all types of threats and this action is a part of that.
How was the action of shooting down the drones?
Saudi Air Defense worked systematically to capture and destroy the drones. According to the Defense Ministry, the operation went like this:
First of all, 2 drones were shot down during the night. An hour later, two drones were intercepted again. In the next round 4 drones and then 3 drones were destroyed. By morning, many drones were destroyed in the air one after the other. A total of 19 drones were targeted in this entire process which did not cause any damage.
Security and recent incidents in the area
Similar activities have been seen in Saudi Arabia as well as other neighboring countries. Major General Turki al-Maliki said that security agencies are monitoring the entire situation. Details of the last 24 hours can be seen in the table below:
Date Place What happened 24 March 2026 Eastern Province 19 drones shot down 23 March 2026 Riyadh 1 ballistic missile intercepted 23 March 2026 Northern Borders 1 drone destroyed 24 March 2026 UAE 17 drones and 5 missiles intercepted
Due to these incidents, tension has increased in the area. It is important for expatriates and especially Indians living in Gulf countries to rely only on official information. Saudi Arabia is continuously taking strict steps to protect its borders.