Greek-run Patriot battery intercepts drone swarm over Saudi oil hub

Greek soldiers deployed in Saudi Arabia operated a U.S.-made Patriot air-defence battery that intercepted a cluster of drones over the Yanbu region, an area that hosts significant oil-refining facilities. According to security sources, the battery launched three missiles while working in tandem with Saudi air-defence systems. The incident is the third time the Greek-run system has been employed in combat since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran started, underscoring the growing involvement of European allies in safeguarding Gulf energy infrastructure.

Greece has maintained the Patriot battery in Saudi Arabia under a 2021 agreement to help protect the kingdom’s energy sites. No details were provided about the drones’ origin or the exact number shot down. The operation reflects heightened security measures around critical energy installations in the region.