On March 19, the SAMREF oil refinery, owned by oil giant Saudi Aramco and located in Yanbu, was attacked by drones amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following attacks on energy infrastructure in Qatar and the UAE. reports Reuters.
The incident occurred during a wave of attacks on energy facilities in the region, including in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. These strikes are linked to the response to US and Israeli actions against Iranian energy infrastructure. Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a warning about the possible evacuation of several oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, including SAMREF.
The escalation also affected the region’s strategically important infrastructure. The Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s oil passes, is tense after a de facto restriction on vessel traffic.
In addition, the attacks affected the work of other energy hubs. In Qatar, serious damage was reported after missile strikes on the Ras Laffan complex, and in the UAE, operations at the Habshan gas facility were suspended.
Meanwhile, in Kuwait, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported a small fire after a drone hit one of the operating units of the Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery.
The US Embassy in Riyadh has urged American citizens to leave Saudi Arabia due to the increased risk of missile strikes and drone attacks. Those who do not leave are advised to be prepared to stay in shelters.
