WASHINGTON: Saudi and US investigators believe the attacks on Saudi oil facilities originated in southwestern Iran, US officials said yesterday.
Three officials said the attacks involved both cruise missiles and drones, indicating that they involved a higher degree of complexity and sophistication than initially thought.
The missiles, according to the investigators’ current assessment, flew over southern Iraq and through Kuwaiti air space before reaching their targets.
Kuwait announced it had launched an investigation into reports of sightings of drones or missiles shortly before the Saudi targets were hit.
Saudi Arabia has asked international experts to join its investigation, which indicates the attacks did not come from Yemen, the Saudi foreign ministry said.
One of the three US officials expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia’s collection of materials following the attacks would yield “compelling forensic evidence ... that will point to where this attack came from.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is traveling to Saudi Arabia.
Trump yesterday said he is not looking to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during a UN event in New York this month.