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SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS


Shipping paralysis in Strait of Hormuz persists on day five as vessels anchor off Gulf producers
PHOTO: The Iranian shores in the Strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Riyadh, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The crisis that has paralysed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz showed no sign of abating on day five of the Middle Eastern conflict. At least 200 ships, including oil and liquefied natural gas tankers as well as cargo ships, remained at anchor in open waters off the coast of major Gulf producers Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The figu
Mar 41 min read


Hegseth says U.S. operation against Iran in early days, larger waves planned
Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at a press conference at the Pentagon on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Pool Washington, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday the U.S. operation against Iran was still in its “early” days four days in, and he outlined plans to accelerate military efforts. “As President Donald Trump said, more and larger waves are coming,” Hegseth said at a news conference. “We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not de
Mar 41 min read


QatarEnergy declares force majeure on LNG shipments after halting production
Doha, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Qatar’s state-owned energy company QatarEnergy said it has declared force majeure on shipments of liquefied natural gas and related products. QatarEnergy is one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas. Force majeure is a contractual clause that frees organizations from liability in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters or war. The company on Monday halted production of liquefied nat
Mar 41 min read


Repatriation flights set to depart as Middle East airspace remains largely empty and airline share selloff eases
Dubai, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Dozens of repatriation flights were due to take off from the Middle East on Wednesday as governments try to bring tens of thousands of stranded citizens home, while the selloff in global airline shares eased even as the U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran escalated. The airspace over most of the Middle East remained largely empty on Wednesday, with major Gulf hubs including Dubai, the world’s busiest international airport,
Mar 42 min read


Hormuz shipping disruption raises food supply risk for Gulf states reliant on imports
People sit on a bench on the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah Causeway as a Zhonggu Shipping container ship sails past on its way towards the port of Shuwaikh in Kuwait City on Saturday. Yasser Al-Zayyat/AFP/Getty Images Dubai, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Shipping disruptions linked to the Iran war matter beyond oil because Gulf Arab states import most of their food, and much of it moves through the Strait of Hormuz. Six Gulf Arab nations, Oman, Saudi Arabia, t
Mar 42 min read


Turkey says NATO air defences destroyed Iranian ballistic missile headed for Turkish airspace
Ankara, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – A ballistic missile fired from Iran and heading into Turkish airspace after passing Syria and Iraq was destroyed by NATO air and missile defence systems in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said in a statement there were no casualties or injuries in the incident. It said Turkey reserves the right to respond to any hostile actions against it, and warned parties to ref
Mar 41 min read


Turkey says ballistic missile fired from Iran towards Turkey has been destroyed
The Turkish defence ministry said the missile was heading into Turkish airspace when it was destroyed by NATO air defences in the eastern Mediterranean.
Mar 41 min read


IAEA says no damage to Iranian nuclear material facilities detected since U.S. Israel assault
An aerial view shows a nuclear facility in Isfahan, Iran, March 30, 2005, in this screengrab taken from video. Reuters TV via REUTERS Vienna, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a post on X it had detected no damage to facilities containing nuclear material in Iran since the United States and Israel launched their joint assault on the country on Saturday. The U.N. nuclear watchdog added that it saw no radiological releas
Mar 41 min read


Sources say unknown projectile hit Saudi Aramco Ras Tanura complex again, no damage reported
Riyadh, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura complex, which houses its largest domestic refinery, was struck again on Wednesday by an unknown projectile, according to four sources. The strike came two days after a drone attack on the complex shut the refinery. Initial indications show Wednesday’s attack was carried out by a drone and resulted in no damage, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry spokesperson said, according to the state news agency.
Mar 41 min read


Israeli military orders evacuations from villages in southern Lebanon, tells residents to move north of Litani River
Riyadh, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Israeli military ordered people living in dozens of villages in southern Lebanon close to the border with Israel to evacuate and move “immediately” north of the Litani River. The Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson warned people on X that moving south of the river would endanger their lives, according to the message. The area south of the Litani River runs largely along the border with Israel. The Lebanese government has
Mar 41 min read


Saudi defence ministry says attempted attack targeted Ras Tanura oil refinery
Riyadh, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said an attempted attack targeted its oil refinery at Ras Tanura. The refinery was previously targeted by an Iranian attack this week.
Mar 41 min read


Saudi defence ministry spokesperson says drones and cruise missiles were intercepted
SPA Riyadh, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence of Saudi Arabia, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said early on Wednesday that nine drones were intercepted and destroyed immediately upon entering the Kingdom’s airspace. The announcement was made in a statement issued by Al-Maliki on the Saudi Ministry of Defence’s page on the X platform. Al-Maliki also said that two cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed in
Mar 41 min read


China urges end to Israel military action on Iran in call with Israeli foreign minister
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a joint press conference with the Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister in Budapest, Hungary on February 11, 2026. Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images Beijing, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – China’s foreign minister called for an end to Israel’s military action on Iran during a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry. Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed Chi
Mar 41 min read


Bahrain says it intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, urges residents to stay indoors
Riyadh, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Bahrain’s military said on Wednesday it has destroyed 74 missiles and 95 drones launched by Iran against the kingdom since the start of the war. The General Command urged people to stay indoors and avoid approaching or filming damaged sites.
Mar 41 min read


Bahrain says it destroyed 74 missiles and 92 Iranian drones since Saturday
Riyadh, March 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Bahrain said on Tuesday its air defence systems have destroyed 74 missiles and 92 Iranian drones since Saturday. The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force said air defence systems remain fully prepared to address threats. It described the use of ballistic missiles and drones to target civilian facilities and private property as a violation of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter, including th
Mar 41 min read


Zelenskiy discusses Iranian strikes with UAE and Qatar leaders, offers drone and missile expertise
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to media after he shared an iftar, meal to break fast at sunset, during the holy month of Ramadan, with Ukrainian Muslim service members, near a mosque in Kyiv, Ukraine March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Alina Smutko Riyadh, March 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed Iranian strikes with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and said Ukrainian teams would work with both countries on
Mar 41 min read


UAE says it is not part of US-Israel war and retains right to self-defense
WAM Riyadh, March 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it retains the right to self-defense, while stating it is not part of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran and has not authorised the use of its territory for attacks on Iran. The statement was posted on X. The UAE Ministry of Defence released figures on missile and drone interceptions, saying Iranian drones struck within the country 57 times out of more than 800 detected, and that o
Mar 41 min read


Saudi foreign minister speaks with Ukraine’s foreign minister on regional escalation
SPA Riyadh, March 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call on Tuesday from Andrii Sybiha, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The call discussed the latest developments in the regional escalation and efforts under way to address it.
Mar 41 min read


UN aid chief urges protection of civilians as Iran conflict spreads across Middle East
Fletcher in New York City, U.S., September 18, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon United Nations, March 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher called for the protection of civilians as the conflict in Iran spread across the Middle East, warning that attacks were hitting homes, hospitals and schools. Fletcher said civilians and civilian infrastructure had come under attack in multiple places, including Iran, Lebanon, Syria, the Occupied Palestinian
Mar 41 min read


Trump orders DFC to offer insurance for Gulf shipping, raises prospect of US Navy escorts
Riyadh, March 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he ordered the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade transiting the Persian Gulf, with coverage available to shipping lines immediately. Trump, writing on Truth Social, suggested the United States Navy would begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, and said the Un
Mar 31 min read
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