A drone attack hit Aramco’s oil installation in Riyadh, igniting a fire at a facility deep inside Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported this development. However, the drone attack did not cause much damage to the oil company.
Officials provided limited details and did not identify the targeted site. However, Saudi Aramco operates a refinery southeast of the capital that produces gasoline, diesel and jet fuel for domestic consumption. The company did not immediately comment on the incident. Meanwhile, the international crude benchmark Brent climbed above $62 per barrel, while Aramco shares fell 0.85% on Riyadh’s Tadawul exchange.
Houthis claim responsibility for the attack
Although the Saudi statement stopped short of assigning blame, the attack came hours after Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yehia Sarie announced that the group launched six drones at an unnamed Aramco facility in Riyadh. He described the strike as a “high-accuracy hit” but offered no evidence.
The Iran-backed Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, have repeatedly targeted Saudi territory during the protracted Yemen conflict. Riyadh lies about 1,000 kilometers from Yemen, yet the rebels have previously fired drones and missiles toward the Saudi capital.
Oil infrastructure under growing threat
The latest strike follows previous attacks on key energy sites, including facilities in Ras Tanura, home to the kingdom’s largest crude refinery. In 2019, a major drone and missile assault temporarily halved Saudi oil production. Although the Houthis claimed that attack, Washington and Riyadh blamed Tehran, which denied involvement.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition against the Houthis since 2015, after the rebels seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. The prolonged war has killed approximately 130,000 people and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, drawing international criticism over civilian casualties.
