Saudi Aramco has suspended operations at its 550,000 barrels-per-day Ras Tanura refinery following a drone attack linked to Iran’s retaliatory actions in the Gulf.
Industry sources confirmed the shutdown of the facility, which serves as both a major refining complex and a critical crude export terminal in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
The Saudi Energy Ministry later affirmed that the refinery sustained limited damage due to debris from the interception of two drones in its vicinity.
A limited fire resulted from the incident, which was immediately contained by emergency response teams, with no injuries or fatalities reported.
Some operational units at the refinery were shut down as a precautionary measure, the ministry stated.
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The attack coincides with strikes on Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Manama, and Duqm in Oman, disrupting shipping operations across the region.
Following these events, Brent crude futures rose approximately 10 percent on Monday, crossing the $80 per barrel mark.
The drone strike comes after the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iranian targets last Saturday.
Shipping activity in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz has slowed significantly, with tankers avoiding the region amid security warnings.
At least 150 crude oil and LNG tankers are currently anchored in the Gulf outside the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship tracking data.
The Strait handles roughly one-fifth of global seaborne oil and LNG shipments daily.
Several countries, including Japan and Greece, have instructed fleets to reconsider transiting the strait, highlighting the sensitivity of energy supply chains to geopolitical shocks.
The United States and several Gulf states jointly condemned Iran’s indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks against sovereign territories across the region.
The major refinery shutdown underscores the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure to regional conflicts.
