Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone attack targeting the Ras Tanura refinery, one of the largest oil processing facilities in the Middle East, as Gulf states reported a surge in missile and drone threats amid escalating regional tensions linked to the Iran-Israel conflict.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed on Wednesday that its air defence systems intercepted a drone aimed at the Ras Tanura refinery along the kingdom’s eastern Gulf coast.
“Initial estimates indicate that the attack was carried out by a drone and did not result in any damage,” the ministry said in a statement posted on X.
The attempted strike came just days after an earlier incident at the same complex earlier this week. On Monday, operations at parts of the Ras Tanura refinery were temporarily halted after an attack caused a fire inside the facility.
Ras Tanura is a critical component of Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and global oil supply network. The refinery has a processing capacity of approximately 550,000 barrels per day and is one of the largest oil facilities in the Gulf region.
Energy analysts say repeated attempts to target such infrastructure underline growing risks to the global oil market as geopolitical tensions intensify across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, other Gulf states also reported intercepting incoming aerial threats.
The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems engaged multiple projectiles on Wednesday, intercepting three ballistic missiles and detecting 129 drones. According to the ministry, 121 drones were successfully destroyed, while eight drones fell within UAE territory without causing significant damage.
In a separate statement, Qatar’s military said the country was targeted early Wednesday by ten drones and two cruise missiles launched from Iran. Qatari air defence systems intercepted all incoming threats before they reached their targets.
The wave of attacks marks the fifth consecutive day of Iranian missile and drone operations targeting neighbouring Gulf states following military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran earlier this week.
Several Gulf governments have accused Tehran of deliberately targeting strategic energy infrastructure across the region, raising concerns about the security of oil refineries, export terminals and shipping routes in the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are among the world’s key energy exporters, and any disruption to their oil facilities could have significant consequences for global energy markets.
Energy security analysts warn that continued threats against Gulf energy infrastructure could increase geopolitical risk premiums in oil prices and create volatility in international crude supply chains.
.jpg "LPG cylinder price reduced to Tk1,885 in Bangladesh")