Saudi Arabia warns of imminent Iran-backed attacks

Saudi Arabia is preparing for what a senior official described as imminent, coordinated attacks on its territory from both the north and south, according to intelligence reports shared by the United States and other regional partners. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday, August 6, 2026, said the intelligence indicates that Iraqi militias and Yemen's Houthis are planning the operations under the supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The potential targets are primarily civilian and economic sites, including energy infrastructure, ports, and airports across the kingdom. The official stated that Saudi authorities have already detected movements of drones and missiles, raising concerns about simultaneous operations launched from Iraq to the north and Yemen to the south. The kingdom is taking the intelligence seriously and has stepped up security preparations, though it has not announced any changes to its public security posture.

The reported threat comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment. The Saudi official expressed alarm, noting that the intelligence emerged as Riyadh continues to pursue de-escalation and a negotiated settlement in the...