Saudi Arabia temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday after a drone strike hit the facility, according to an industry source, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.
State-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco closed the refinery as a precaution, the source said, adding that the situation is under control. Authorities reported that two drones were intercepted at the site, with debris causing a limited fire. The Saudi defence ministry said there were no injuries.
Located on the kingdom’s Gulf coast, Ras Tanura is one of the Middle East’s largest refineries, with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day. It also serves as a key export terminal for Saudi crude.
The attack occurred on the third day of regional strikes reportedly launched by Tehran in response to U.S.–Israeli military actions against Iran. The shutdown has heightened concerns over global oil supply, especially as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed following attacks on vessels nearby.
Brent crude prices surged about 10% on Monday amid fears of further disruptions.
Energy analyst Torbjorn Soltvedt described the strike as a major shift in the security landscape. “The attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran’s sights,” he said. He added that the development could draw Gulf states closer to supporting U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.
The drone strike was part of broader attacks reported across the region, including incidents in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Manama and Oman’s commercial port of Duqm. In Iraq’s Kurdistan region, most oil production was reportedly shut down over the weekend as a precaution.
Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities have previously been targeted, including the 2019 attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais that temporarily disrupted more than half of the kingdom’s crude output. Ras Tanura was also attacked in 2021 by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which Riyadh said was a failed attempt to destabilise global energy supplies.
