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Saudi Arabia has increased security measures for its leaders, amid concerns that Iran or Houthi rebels in Yemen could attempt attacks on the kingdom's top officials.
According to a source quoted by The Jerusalem Post, one of the preventive measures that Riyadh has taken since the beginning of the war between Israel, the United States and Iran is to hold meetings of ministers and senior officials mainly through video conferences.
The source stressed that in normal times the Saudi leadership does not usually use virtual meetings for high-level matters, which indicates the level of security concern.
Meanwhile, Israeli media outlet KAN News reported that Saudi Arabia has beefed up security for key state figures, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman, out of fear of a possible attack from Tehran or Houthi rebels.
Since the start of the conflict, Iran has launched dozens of missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia, striking several strategic targets. Reported targets include Aramco oil installations, civilian infrastructure and other facilities in Riyadh.
These attacks are considered by Saudi authorities as a "red line" in relations with Iran and have prompted the kingdom to discuss the possibility of a military response against Tehran.
According to Bernard Haykel, professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton University, Saudi Arabia's strategic calculations have changed significantly after the country's civilian infrastructure became the target of attacks.
"Riyadh had previously warned Tehran that if Saudi Arabia remained neutral in a conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, its infrastructure should remain off-target," he said.
However, according to the expert, Iranian officials had made it clear to the Saudis that if Iran faced an existential threat from the US and Israel, then it would also strike Saudi Arabia.
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