Riyadh, March 2: Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant, Aramco, suspended operations at its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following a drone attack, an industry source stated. The strike marks a sharp escalation in regional hostilities, occurring on the third day of retaliatory actions launched by Tehran in response to joint U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran.
The Ras Tanura complex, situated on the kingdom’s Gulf coast, is a cornerstone of global energy markets, housing one of the Middle East’s largest refineries with a processing capacity of 550,000 barrels per day. A spokesperson for the Saudi defense ministry asserted on Al Arabiya TV that two drones were intercepted at the facility. While falling debris ignited a limited fire, the ministry maintained that the situation is under control and no injuries were reported.
Market analysts noted that the temporary closure has intensified global supply anxieties, particularly as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed significantly. Consequently, Brent crude futures rose approximately 10% on Monday. “The attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran’s sights,” affirmed Torbjorn Soltvedt, Principal Middle East Analyst at Verisk Maplecroft.
The regional crisis continues to widen following allegations from Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reza Najafi, who stated that U.S.-Israeli airstrikes targeted the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. While American and Israeli officials have not confirmed those specific strikes, the ongoing friction has led observers to suggest that Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf states may move closer to formal military cooperation with U.S. and Israeli forces.
