Saudi Aramco’s largest refinery struck again by drone amid Middle East conflict escalation

Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco said its Ras Tanura refinery, home to the country’s largest domestic refinery and a critical oil export hub, was struck again by a drone on Wednesday, in the latest escalation of attacks linked to Middle East tensions.

According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence of Saudi Arabia, the attempted attack was carried out by a drone but preliminary assessments indicate there was no damage to the facility during the second strike, and Saudi air defences intercepted the projectile.

This second reported hit comes just days after a drone strike on Monday forced Saudi Aramco to temporarily halt operations at Ras Tanura as a precaution after debris from intercepted drones caused a limited fire in the complex’s vicinity.

The refinery, situated on the Gulf coast near Ras Tanura, has a processing capacity of about 550,000 barrels per day and serves as one of the world’s most important crude oil processing and exporting hubs.

Saudi officials reiterated that no injuries or major damage have been reported from the latest incident. They said operations at the facility remain under review but that the strikes have not disrupted petroleum supplies so far.

The renewed attacks on Ras Tanura come amid a series of drone and missile strikes across the Gulf region following the recent escalation between Iran and United States and Israel. In that broader conflict, energy infrastructure in other Gulf states, including facilities in Kuwait City and the United Arab Emirates, has also faced aerial threats that authorities have been working to counter.

Energy analysts warn that repeated attacks on key oil installations in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring states could heighten volatility in global oil markets, especially if operations at Ras Tanura or other facilities are disrupted for prolonged periods.