Two killed and 12 injured by military projectile in Al-Kharj Governorate, Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities announced on Sunday that human casualties occurred in Al-Kharj Governorate, south of the capital Riyadh, after a military projectile fell on a populated area. The Civil Defense reported that the incident resulted in the death of two individuals of Indian and Bangladeshi nationalities, in addition to 12 others sustaining various injuries. The injured were transported to receive necessary medical care.

Official sources clarified that the projectile directly hit a residential complex designated for workers of a maintenance and cleaning company in the governorate. The Al-Kharj region includes a vital air base, which has been a target of repeated strikes since the escalation of military tensions in the region in late February, raising the pace of security concerns in both vital and civilian installations.

For its part, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced its responsibility for carrying out operations targeting radar systems and military sites in Al-Kharj and other areas within the Kingdom. These attacks come in the context of Tehran's response to military operations led by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets, which have entered a new phase of direct and open confrontation.

Saudi Civil Defense stressed that deliberately targeting civilian objects and residential facilities constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian conventions and laws. The authorities affirmed that they have initiated the implementation of all approved procedures to deal with such emergency situations, while maintaining a state of alert to confront any potential aerial threats that may affect Saudi territories.

In a related context, Sunday witnessed a coordinated escalation affecting several Gulf countries, as Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates announced that they had been subjected to similar attacks. Drones and ballistic missiles were used in these attacks, indicating the expansion of the regional conflict as the confrontation enters its ninth day amidst the absence of any prospect for de-escalation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had previously delivered a televised speech, in which he apologized to neighboring countries for the collateral damage of military operations. Pezeshkian indicated that his country is prepared to cease targeting these countries on the condition that their territories or military bases are not used as a launchpad for attacks against Iran by international powers.

It is worth noting that the region has been in a state of turmoil since February 28, following a widespread aggression launched by Israel and the United States against Iran, which led to the killing of high-ranking leaders. Since then, Tehran has responded with missile barrages targeting Israeli depth and what it describes as American interests in the region, leading to civilian casualties and severe material damage in several Arab countries.

Attempts to target civilian objects represent a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.