Iranian Report Alleges Direct Saudi-Emirati Involvement in Attacks on Iran

An analytical report by the Iranian news agency Tasnim revealed that the direct entry of the UAE and Saudi Arabia into the confrontation by sending drones into Iranian airspace represents a high-risk gamble, given the fragility of their infrastructure and their heavy reliance on American support.

According to the agency’s War Analysis Section, images released after the downing of two drones over Fars province indicate that one was an American MQ-9 Reaper, while the other was a Chinese-made Wing Loong. The Wing Loong possesses capabilities similar to Iran’s Shahed-129 and is used by some countries in the region, most notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The report suggests that this development reflects a shift by some Gulf states from indirect support of US operations against Iran to direct participation in the escalation. This opens the door to potential Iranian retaliation targeting critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The analysis points out that the experience of the Yemen war has demonstrated the limited ability of these countries to counter asymmetric threats, making their decision to participate directly a risky move. This decision may be linked to US pressure and Washington’s repeated demands that “regional allies bear the costs.”

Technically, assessments suggest that the Reaper was shot down by the 9D air defense system, while the Wing Loong was downed using a [unspecified] system. “Majid.” If these data are confirmed, it represents the first documented case of successful use of the “9D” system in this war, which gives the event special importance on the operational and technical level.