An “unidentified projectile” struck Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery on Wednesday, according to four sources speaking to Reuters.
The facility, which serves as Saudi Arabia’s largest domestic refinery and a critical crude oil export terminal, was reportedly hit just two days after a prior drone attack forced it to shut down.
A spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defence, citing preliminary information, confirmed that the refinery was targeted by a drone but maintained that the incident resulted in no damage.
A source within the Ministry of Energy added that there have been no disruptions to oil supplies following the strike.
The attack occurs against a backdrop of escalating regional instability. Following recent strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil producers have been unable to transport oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
Hundreds of vessels remain anchored on both sides of the strategic waterway as a precautionary measure, following warnings from Iran that any attempt to traverse the passage would be met with fire.
In response to the blockade, sources indicate that Aramco is attempting to reroute some of its crude oil exports via the Red Sea to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment regarding the situation.
The energy installations of the Kingdom, which are typically under heavy security, have a history of being targeted. In 2021, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched an attack on Ras Tanura, an act Riyadh characterised as a failed assault on global energy security.
Most notably, in September 2019, unprecedented drone and missile strikes on the Abqaiq processing plant and the Khurais oilfield forced the temporary suspension of more than half of the country’s crude production, causing significant volatility in global markets.
Recent reports from US media have also alleged a suspected Iranian drone strike on a CIA station located within Saudi Arabia.
