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List of wars involving Saudi Arabia

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This is a list of wars involving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its predecessor states.

First Saudi state (1744–1818)

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Conflict Combatant 1 Combatant 2 Result Monarch
Ottoman-Saudi War
(1811–1818)		 Ottoman-Egyptian victory

Second Saudi state (1824–1891)

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Conflict Combatant 1 Combatant 2 Result Monarch
Attack on Dammam
(3–4 February 1866)		  Emirate of Nejd  United Kingdom Saudi victory
Al-Hasa Expedition (1871)  Emirate of Nejd
(Faction of Saud bin Faisal)		 Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire
  Sheikhdom of Kuwait
(Allied with faction of Abdullah bin Faisal)		 Ottoman victory
• Ottoman annexation of Al-Hasa and Qatif
• Establishment of the Najd Sanjak

Emirate of Riyadh (1902–1913)

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Conflict Combatant 1 Combatant 2 Result Monarch
First Saudi–Rashidi War
(1903–1907)		 Emirate of Riyadh Emirate of Ha'il
Ottoman Empire		 Saudi Victory
Conquest of al-Hasa
(1913)		 Emirate of Riyadh Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire Riyadh victory

Emirate of Nejd and Hasa (1913–1921)

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Conflict Combatant 1 Combatant 2 Result Monarch
Second Saudi-Rashidi War
(1915–1918)		 Emirate of Nejd and Hasa Emirate of Jabal Shammar Inconclusive
  • Saudi offensive halted
Kuwait–Najd War
(1919–1920)		 Emirate of Nejd and Hasa Emirate of Kuwait Inconclusive

Sultanate of Nejd (1921–1926)

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Conflict Combatant 1 Combatant 2 Result Monarch
Conquest of Ha'il
(1921)		 Sultanate of Nejd Emirate of Jabal Shammar Victory
  • Incorporation of Jabal Shammar.
Saudi Conquest of Hejaz
(1924–1925)		 Sultanate of Nejd Kingdom of Hejaz Victory
  • Incorporation of Hejaz.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1932–present)

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Conflict Combatant 1 Combatant 2 Result Monarch
Saudi–Yemeni War
(1934)		 Saudi Arabia Yemen Victory
First Arab–Israeli War
(1948–1949)
Defeat
North Yemen Civil War
(1962–1965)		 Kingdom of Yemen
Saudi Arabia		 Yemen Arab Republic

United Arab Republic

 Defeat
Al-Wadiah War
(1969)		 Saudi Arabia
Pakistan[8][9]		 South Yemen Victory
Yom Kippur War
(1973)		 Israel Defeat[17]
  • At the final ceasefire:
    • Egyptian forces held 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi) on the eastern bank of the canal.[18]
    • Israeli forces held 1,600 km2 (620 sq mi) on the western bank of the canal.[19]
    • Israeli forces held 500 km2 (193 sq mi) of the Syrian Bashan region of the Golan Heights.
Lebanese Civil War
(1976–1979)		 Arab League ADF LF
FLA		 Victory[20]
  • ADF mission goals achieved[20]
  • ADF becomes an all-Syrian force in 1979
1979 Qatif Uprising
(1979)
* Crackdown on Shiite opposition groups
  • Political exile of Saudi Shiites to Iran
  • Extra government spending announced in Qatif region to address inequalities
  • Religious intolerance and state discrimination continue until 2015
Grand Mosque seizure
(1979)		 Saudi Arabia Ikhwan Victory
  • Saudi troops suppress uprising
  • Execution of Juhayman and his followers publicly by decapitation
Gulf War
(1990–1991)		 Kuwait
United States
United Kingdom
Saudi Arabia
France
Canada
Egypt
Syria
Oman
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Italy
Australia		 Iraq Victory
Iraqi No-Fly Zone Enforcement Operations
(1991–2003)		 United States
United Kingdom
France
Australia
Belgium
Netherlands
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Italy		 Iraq Victory
  • Various bombings of Iraqi forces both aerial and naval
  • Mass numbers of Iraqi targets killed or destroyed
  • Reduction in Iraqi air defense
  • Beginning of the Iraq War
First Intervention in the Somali Civil War
(1992–1995)		 United States
United Kingdom
Spain
Saudi Arabia
Malaysia
Pakistan
Italy
India
Greece
Germany
France
Canada
Botswana
Belgium
Australia
New Zealand		 Somalia Somali National Alliance Defeat
Operation Ocean Shield
(2009–2016)		 NATO
Malaysia
South Korea
India
Saudi Arabia		 Somalia Somali pirates Victory
  • Number of pirate attacks have decreased dramatically since the start of such operations, however attacks still occur near the coast waters of Oman, Yemen, Kenya, and Somalia
  • Piracy drops 90%[21]
Sixth Sa'dah War
(2009–2010)		 Yemen
Saudi Arabia
Jordan
Morocco		 Houthis Stalemate[22]
  • Houthis consolidate control over Sa'dah
American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war

(2014–2018)

 CJTF-OIR Forces withdrawn
War on ISIS
(2014–)		 Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan
Free Syrian Army
Rojava
United States
United Kingdom
Jordan
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
Qatar
United Arab Emirates
Morocco
Australia
Belgium
Canada
France

Egypt
Germany
Denmark
Norway
Russia
Iran

 Islamic State Islamic State
al-Nusra Front
Khorasan		 Ongoing
  • Multinational intervention against Syrian Islamists
Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen
(2015–)		 Yemen Hadi government
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Senegal
Sudan
Qatar
Bahrain
South Korea
Kuwait
Jordan
Morocco
Egypt
France		 Yemen Houthi government
Islamic State Ansar al-Sharia
Islamic State Islamic State		 Ongoing
2017–2020 Qatif unrest
(2017–2020)		 Hezbollah Al-Hejaz (Suspected)
Other Shia Militias
Supported by:
Al-Mukhtar Brigades
Bahrain Bahraini Militias		 Saudi victory
Direct Involvement in the Middle Eastern Crisis
(2025-present)

October 7 attacks:
Israel
Armed Israeli Citizens

Gaza War & West Bank Incursions:
Israel
Israeli-backed groups:
Popular Forces
Fatah Fatah-affiliated groups

Defensive Only:
Palestinian Authority

Intelligence support during April & October Iranian
strikes:
Due to strikes by Iraqi militias (until
2024):

2024 Kerman Bombings:
Islamic State

Defensive during Iranian Retaliatory Strikes:
Prosperity Guardian (until

 Aspides (until 2024):
European Union
Independent Patrols (Red Sea Crisis):
China[26]
Egypt
India
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia

Syrian Civil War (until 2024):
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham
Syria Southern Operations Room
Syria Free Syrian Army
Syria Syrian National Army
From 2024:
Syria

Twelve Day War:
United States Israel

Defensive
only:
2025-26 Iranian protests:
Political groups:
Separatist groups:
Labour, civil, and retiree groups:
  • Free Workers Union of Iran[48]
  • Iranian Writers Association[48]
  • Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers Trade Associations[48]
  • Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers Syndicate[48]
  • Coordination Committee to Help Form Independent Labour Organisations[48]
  • Khuzestan Retired Workers[48]
  • Union of Retirees Group[48]
  • Kurdish Women's Organisations[48]
  • Retirees Union[49]
  • Kermanshah Electricity and Metal Association[49]
  • "Stop Executions"[49]
  • "Justice Seekers"[49]
  • Coordination Council for Protests of Contract Oil Workers[49]
  • Coordination Council for Protests of Non-Formal Oil Workers[49]
  • Coordination Council of Nurses Protests[49]
  • "Neday-e Zanan-e Iran"[49]
  • World Iranian Christian Alliance[50]

2026 Iran War:

Anti-Iranian Protestors (outside Iran)

 Iran
Ba'athist Syria (until 2024)

Axis of Resistance: Hamas
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
Palestinian Mujahideen Movement
Palestinian Freedom Movement
Popular Resistance Committees
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command

Hezbollah
Amal Movement[51]
Islamic Group[52]

Intelligence Support:
Russia

Syrian Civil War (until 2024):
Ba'athist Syria
Russia
From 2024:
Assadist insurgents

Defensive during Israeli invasion of Lebanon: Lebanon
UN

Defensive stances on attacks by Israel and allies: Lebanon
Yemen
Sri Lanka

Pro-Iranian protestors (outside Iran)

Ongoing:

Notes

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  1. 1 2 After 22 September 1948
  2. ↑ Lebanon had decided to not participate in the war and only took part in the battle of al-Malikiya on 5–6 June 1948.[3]
  3. ↑ The United Kingdom has also undertaken defensive deployments outside of Akrotiri and Dhekelia

References

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  1. ↑ Tétreault, Mary Ann (1995). The Kuwait petroleum corporation and the economics of the new world order. Westport, Conn: Quorum Books. ISBN 978-0-89930-510-3.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Oren 2003, p. 5.
  3. ↑ Morris (2008), p. 260.
  4. ↑ Gelber, pp. 55, 200, 239
  5. ↑ Morris, Benny (2008), 1948: The First Arab-Israeli War, Yale University Press, p. 205, New Haven, ISBN 978-0-300-12696-9.
  6. ↑ Palestine Post, "Israel's Bedouin Warriors", Gene Dison, August 12, 1948
  7. ↑ AFP (24 April 2013). "Bedouin army trackers scale Israel social ladder". Al Arabiya English. Al Arabiya. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  8. ↑ Group Captain (R) Husseini & Pakistan Air Force. "Wars in the Mach-2 Era (1961-1970)". PAF over the Years. Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force. p. 66.
  9. ↑ "What Accounts for Pakistan's Troop Deployment to Saudi Arabia?". YemenWatch. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Pakistani combat pilots also flew RSAF English Electric Lightning supersonic fighter aircraft during the al-Wadiah War between Saudi Arabia and the People's Republic of South Yemen in 1969.
  10. ↑ Bidwell, Robin (1998). Dictionary Of Modern Arab History. Routledge. p. 437. ISBN 9780710305053.
  11. ↑ O'Ballance (1979), pp. 201.
  12. ↑ Shazly (2003), p. 278.
  13. ↑ Rabinovich (2004), pp. 464–465.
  14. ↑ Mahjoub Tobji (2006). Les officiers de Sa Majesté: Les dérives des généraux marocains 1956–2006 (in French). Fayard. p. 107. ISBN 978-2-213-63015-1.
  15. ↑ Shazly (2003), pp. 83–84.
  16. ↑ Cenciotti, David. "Israeli F-4s Actually Fought North Korean MiGs During the Yom Kippur War". Business Insider.
  17. ↑ References:
  18. ↑ Rabinovich (2004), p. 467.
  19. ↑ Morris (2011), p. 437.
  20. 1 2 SM Saseen, The Taif Accord and Lebanon's Struggle to Regain its Sovereignty, p. 63.
  21. ↑ "Somali piracy is down 90 per cent from last year". The Journal. 15 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  22. ↑ Zimmerman, Katherine L. Yemen's Pivotal Moment. Critical Threats Project of the American Enterprise Institute, 2014.
  23. ↑ Winer, Stuart (15 April 2024). "Report: Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, provided intelligence on Iran attack". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  24. ↑ Bradley, Matt (16 April 2024). "An uneasy alliance of Arab states helped defend Israel from Iran. Their resolve may soon be tested". NBC News. Beirut. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  25. ↑ Saudi Arabia likely allowed Israel to use its airspace to do so...As with any other sovereign state, missiles or other unauthorized objects crossing a country's airspace are often deemed violations of either domestic or international law. |url-status=live}}
  26. ↑ Brar, Aadil (22 February 2024). "China sends warships to the Middle East". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  27. ↑ Allowed the use of airspace.
  28. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Golkar-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ↑ Makoii, Akhtar (12 January 2026). "Armed protesters fight back against Iranian regime". The Telegraph.
  30. ↑ "Iran supreme leader says will not yield as protests simmer and US threatens". Reuters. 3 January 2026.
  31. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Reza Pahlavi-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Iran International-2026i was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  33. ↑ Teller, Neville (30 June 2025). "Is there a chance for regime change in Iran? – opinion". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  34. 1 2 Cite error: The named reference Shamim was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  35. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Jones-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  36. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Karim-2025 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  37. ↑ "Iran Braces for More Protests. Here's What to Know". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cite error: The named reference Hengaw-2026c was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cite error: The named reference Shafaq News-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  40. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Sleiman-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  41. ↑ Cite error: The named reference caliber.az-2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  42. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Deutsche Welle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  43. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Institute for the Study of War-2025 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  44. ↑ "Iranian Baloch group calls for protests and strikes across Iran". Iran International. 7 January 2026.
  45. ↑ Cite error: The named reference IranUpdateJanuary11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  46. ↑ "Iran is Cut off from Internet as Protests Calling for Regime Change Intensify". The New York Times. 8 January 2026.
  47. ↑ "Iran's protests no longer speak language of reform [OPINION]". Azer News. 9 January 2026.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Iranian Authorities Intensify Crackdown on Protests with Live Fire, Arbitrary Arrests, and Attacks on Hospitals". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 6 January 2026.
  49. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Iranian labor, civil and retiree groups voice support for protests". Iran Insight. 4 January 2026.
  50. ↑ "Iranian Christian alliance urges restraint as protests continue across Iran - Premier Christian News | Headlines, Breaking News, Comment & Analysis". Premier Christian.
  51. ↑ Dana Polak (6 October 2024). "Al-Abbas Force". Israel Alma.
  52. ↑ "Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon after Gaza and Hezbollah War". 30 October 2024. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  53. ↑ "Bahrain says two soldiers killed in Houthi drone attack". Reuters. 26 September 2023.
  54. ↑ "Fourth soldier from Bahrain dies of wounds after Yemen's Houthi rebels attack troops on Saudi border". Associated Press. 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  55. ↑ Following Israeli–United States strikes on Iran, loud explosions were reported in the eastern regions of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
  56. ↑ Saudi Arabia intercepted missiles aimed at the Prince Sultan Air Base and the Riyadh airport without any material losses. Iranian forces launched a missile attack on a US base in Saudi Arabia, a US soldier died by wounds sustained eights days latter.
  57. ↑ Saudi Arabia claimed to have intercepted two hostile drones aimed at the Ras Tanura oil refinery while a limited fire broke out due to falling shrapnel.
  58. ↑ The United States embassy in Riyadh was subject to an attack by two Iranian drones, which Saudi authorities confirmed
  59. ↑ The Aramco facility in Ras Tanura was hit for the second time by a projectile.
  60. ↑ An Iranian drone strike, which the IRGC said targeted radar systems, hit a residential building in Al-Kharj, killing two people
  61. ↑ Saudi Arabia said that its forces had destroyed four drones targeting Shaybah oil field.
  62. ↑ CIA station in Riyadh is struck by Iranian drones.

Further information

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