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A Patriot air defense battery operated by Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles launched from Yemen on Saturday, targeting oil refineries in the Yanbu region, according to Greek security sources cited by Reuters.
"The attack was launched with two ballistic missiles and targeted the refineries in Yanbu," one Greek security source told Reuters, adding that the missiles had been launched from Yemen.
A second source confirmed the interception. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense had issued an emergency alert in Yanbu warning residents of danger.
According to Greek media outlet Kathimerini, Greek military sources said in a statement: "At 7.15 a.m. (Greece time), the Patriot Guided Missile Artillery of the Hellenic Force of Saudi Arabia (ELDYSA), as part of its participation in the mission of the international initiative 'Integrated Air Missile Defense (IAMD) Concept' to support the air defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, successfully confronted a 100% attack from the Yemeni region."
The statement said the attack "was carried out with two ballistic missiles and targeted a major refinery facility in the Yanbu region, where the Greek artillery is deployed," adding that the mission continues operating as normal.
Saturday's interception marked the second time Greek personnel have operated the system to intercept an attack.
Kathimerini reported that Greek Patriots shot down two Iranian missiles fired at Saudi refineries in March, an earlier interception by the same unit.
Greece has deployed a U.S.-made Patriot air defense battery, operated by Greek personnel, in Saudi Arabia since 2021 under an agreement to help protect the kingdom's energy infrastructure.
The unit, known as the ELDYSA, was formed following years of technical and diplomatic negotiations that culminated in a 2021 memorandum of cooperation, deploying from Tanagra Air Base and arriving in Saudi Arabia in September of that year, according to Kathimerini.
Greece had weighed extending the deployment through November 2026 following a formal request from Riyadh, with the mission considered part of the broader Integrated Air and Missile Defense concept underpinning Saudi security and protecting key Aramco facilities.
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