A responsible source in the Saudi Ministry of Energy stated that the oil refinery in Ras Tanura sustained limited damage this morning due to debris resulting from the interception of two drones in the refinery’s vicinity. A limited fire broke out but was dealt with immediately by emergency teams, resulting in no injuries or deaths. Some operational units at the refinery were temporarily shut down for safety reasons, but oil supplies and derivatives to local markets remained unaffected.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced the interception of two drones attempting to attack the Ras Tanura refinery on the Arab Gulf. Lieutenant General Turki Al-Malki, a spokesperson for the ministry, confirmed that a limited fire occurred at the refinery due to debris from the interception operation, with no civilian casualties. The fire at the Aramco-operated refining facility was brought under control, with relevant authorities managing the incident and taking necessary measures to ensure facility safety and continued operations.
The Ras Tanura refinery, part of the Kingdom’s energy complex on the Gulf coast with a daily production capacity of 550,000 barrels, is a key site for exporting crude oil. Analyst Torbjorn Solvoll from Verisk Maplecroft described the attack on the Saudi refinery as a serious escalation, noting that Gulf energy infrastructure has become a direct target for Iran. The site was previously targeted by the Houthi group, allied with Iran, in 2021, which the Kingdom described as a failed attack on global energy security.
Following the incident, reports indicated that the Saudi military had raised its readiness level following previous Iranian attacks on its territory. Additionally, Saudi air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles targeting the Prince Sultan air base near Riyadh. Six Arab countries, alongside the United States, condemned the attacks on Monday. The UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and the US strongly condemned the “reckless and dangerous” Iranian missile and drone attacks on sovereign soil in the region, including their own territories, which endangered civilians and damaged infrastructure.
The seven states stated that Iranian actions constitute a serious escalation violating the sovereignty of many nations and threatening regional stability. They characterized attacks on civilians as reckless and destabilizing. They affirmed their unity in defending citizens, sovereignty, and the right to self-defense, while reiterating their commitment to regional security and praising air defense cooperation that prevented greater casualties.
