According to two Saudi sources who spoke to AFP on Friday, Saudi Arabia forbade the United States from launching operations for its brief attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz using its airspace and bases on its territory.
However, the individuals, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss delicate issues, stated that Washington will continue to have access to Saudi bases and airspace for other purposes.
Saudi Arabia has stated time and time again that it will not permit Iran to be attacked using its airspace or territory.
Following a flare-up with Iran that strained a precarious ceasefire, US President Donald Trump earlier this week called a halt to the two-day-old “Project Freedom” to direct ships through the strait.
US media reports on Thursday said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi leader, talked directly to Trump and refused to let US forces use Saudi airspace and bases for the operation.
Saudi Arabia “did not allow flights for operation Freedom”, one of the sources told AFP.
“Saudi Arabia was against the operation because it felt it would just escalate the situation and would not work,” the source added.
On Friday morning, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly said the kingdom “maintains its position supporting de-escalation and negotiations efforts”, in a post on social media.
Despite an Iranian attack on three American vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran remained in effect.
Tehran claimed that Washington started the gunfight, but the US military claimed to have responded by striking Iranian military targets.
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