Latest news in Saudi Arabia? September 12th, 2026

The primary news in Saudi Arabia on September 12, 2026, centers on security, regional diplomacy, and upcoming national events:

• Condemnation of East-West Pipeline Drone Attack: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong statement condemning a drone attack targeting sections of the strategic East-West Pipeline across the Riyadh and Madinah regions. The drones originated from Iraqi territory, resulting in injuries and physical damage that authorities are currently addressing. Following a request from Iraq’s Prime Minister to allow Baghdad time to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent further cross-border launches, Riyadh announced it is pausing immediate retaliatory action while affirming its full right to protect its sovereignty and critical infrastructure.
• Regional Reactions and Coordination: Neighboring nations and regional bodies, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jordan, and Qatar, condemned the pipeline strike, describing the targeting of civil economic assets as a severe escalation while backing the Kingdom’s defensive stance.
• Preparations for Saudi National Day 96: Across major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, public and commercial sectors are ramping up preparations for the 96th Saudi National Day celebrations scheduled for September 23, alongside high-profile business summits including Money20/20 Middle East later in the week.