General Mohammed al-Ghamidi said Saudi authorities were in "direct contact" with their neighbours to identify the source of yesterday's shelling and to prevent a repetition.
According to Okaz newspaper's website, the rounds were fired "from the Iraqi side of the border."
"Six mortar rounds fell Wednesday in an uninhabited area near Al-Awja border crossing... In Hafr al-Batin in (oil-rich) Eastern Province, and no damage was caused," the official SPA news agency quoted Ghamidi as saying.
Hafr al-Batin, a desert region near Iraq and Kuwait, was a command headquarters for US forces during the 1991 Gulf War which expelled Iraqi occupation forces from the emirate.
The incident comes amid regional turmoil fuelled by the Syrian conflict, with Riyadh backing rebels against the regime of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, who is strongly supported by Iran.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
