Saudi Arabia said that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed several drones on Tuesday evening that had been launched from Iraqi territory by “Iran-backed armed groups,” Al Arabiya reports.

A spokesperson for the kingdom’s Ministry of Defense, Major General Turki al-Maliki, said the drones had attempted to attack oil facilities in the country’s Eastern Province.

According to him, Saudi Arabia reserves the “legitimate right to defend its territories and national capabilities,” as well as the right to respond to the attack “at the appropriate time and in the appropriate place.”

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the actions of the Iran-backed groups, calling them new attacks on the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.

The incident occurred on the eve of the expected visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to Saudi Arabia. A day earlier, a similar drone attack had also targeted facilities in the same region, after which Riyadh called on Baghdad not to allow Iraqi territory to be used for attacks.

Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the first attack and said that those responsible would be held accountable. His office said that Iraq is studying the data provided by Saudi Arabia and intends to take legal action against all those involved if their guilt is confirmed.