Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refinery, the Saudi Aramco facility in Ras Tanura, was engulfed in flames on Monday following what authorities described as a drone attack linked to Iran.
The incident led to the temporary closure of the refinery, which has a processing capacity of about 550,000 barrels per day. Reports indicated that a section of the plant was affected, triggering a fire at the facility.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that drones launched from Iran targeted the refinery. However, an official statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency said the drones were intercepted before causing major damage.
“Two drones attempting to attack the Ras Tanura refinery this morning were intercepted and destroyed,” a defence ministry spokesperson said.
Reuters, citing an industry source, reported that Saudi Aramco shut down operations at the refinery as a precautionary measure amid rising regional tensions.
In a related development, Qatar has reportedly halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. The country supplies nearly 20 per cent of global LNG, raising fresh concerns about potential disruptions to international energy markets.
The developments come amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East, following retaliatory actions by Iran against key US allies in the region. Tensions have surged in recent days, fueling fears of a broader regional conflict.
