Saudi Arabia expels Iranian diplomats, ballistic missiles intercepted in several countries

(Patria) - Saudi Arabia ordered the Iranian military attaché, his assistant, and three embassy employees to leave the country within 24 hours, amid tensions and Tehran's attacks on Gulf states. The decision was announced early Sunday by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They stated that the continued Iranian attacks represent a "flagrant violation" of international conventions and contradict the "principles of Islamic brotherhood," warning of the possibility of further escalation of the conflict.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia informed the military attaché of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, his assistant, and three members of the mission staff to leave the Kingdom," the statement said.

It added that they have been declared undesirable persons, i.e., "personae non gratae."

Just a few hours after the announcement, the Saudi Ministry of Defense reported that it had detected three ballistic missiles fired toward the capital Riyadh.

The Ministry of Defense announced early Sunday that one of the three missiles fired at Riyadh was intercepted, while the remaining two fell in an uninhabited area. The military also detected several drones directed toward the eastern region of the country during the night.

The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates announced that it responded to attacks from Iran early Sunday. Over the past 24 hours, the country's air defense intercepted at least eight drones and three ballistic missiles.

Kuwait's state news agency reported Saturday evening, citing the Ministry of Defense, that air defense systems had shot down nine ballistic missiles in the past 24 hours.

Bahrain's Defense Forces announced early Sunday that they had shot down two drones during the previous day.