Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura target of attempted drone attack, defense ministry says

Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura, which houses its largest domestic refinery and a key crude export terminal, was targeted by an attempted drone attack today, a Saudi defense ministry spokesperson says on X, two days after a drone attack on the complex shut the refinery.

The attack resulted in no damage, the spokesman says. The Saudi state news agency also cites an energy ministry source as saying that there was no disruption to supplies.

Three separate sources tell Reuters that Ras Tanura was struck, but do not provide details on any damage.

Saudi Arabia and other regional Gulf oil producers, such as the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq, have been ​unable to move oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Friday.

Hundreds of ships have anchored on either ​side of the Strait as a precaution, and Iran has said it will fire on any vessel that attempts to ⁠transit the shipping choke point.

Ras Tanura sits on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast on the Gulf. Aramco is attempting to reroute some of its crude exports to the Red Sea to avoid the Strait, sources have said.

Aramco does not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.