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A Greek-operated Patriot air defense system intercepted two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen on July 25, targeting oil refineries in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. It’s the second time Greek personnel have used the system in combat this year.
What happened in Yanbu
The Patriot PAC-3 battery, manufactured in the US but operated by approximately 130 Greek military personnel, successfully neutralized two inbound ballistic missiles. The targets were oil refining facilities in Yanbu, a critical hub on Saudi Arabia’s western coast.
This deployment traces back to a 2021 bilateral agreement between Greece and Saudi Arabia. The unit, known as ELDYSA, has been stationed in the kingdom since September 2021, tasked specifically with protecting vital energy infrastructure.
The first combat engagement came on March 19, 2026, when the same system downed two Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Saudi oil facilities. Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias publicly confirmed that earlier interception. The July 25 event was reported by multiple Greek security sources and picked up by Reuters.
During the March incident, the SAMREF refinery at Yanbu was among the targeted facilities.
The broader geopolitical picture
Greece isn’t just lending equipment. It has boots on the ground, with approximately 130 military personnel operating and maintaining the Patriot system. That means a NATO member state’s soldiers are actively engaged in combat operations defending Middle Eastern energy infrastructure.
This arrangement, formalized in 2021, reflects a growing trend of Western military capabilities being deployed to protect oil supply chains.
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