21/10/2026
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21/10/2026
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Storage tanks are seen at the North Jeddah bulk plant, an Aramco oil facility, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 21, 2021. (AP)
RIYADH, Oct 21: Two foreign nationals were killed and two others injured on Wednesday after Saudi air defenses intercepted a drone attempting to target a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province, the Saudi Energy Ministry said.
A ministry official said the drone was intercepted while attempting to strike one of the facilities at the oil field, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Debris from the interception caused a fire in a vehicle belonging to a contractor working at the oil field, outside the facility’s perimeter, the official said.
The ministry confirmed that the incident did not affect operations at the oil field.
The two people killed were nationals of the Philippines and Nepal, while the injured were nationals of Pakistan and India. The statement did not immediately provide further details about their identities or the severity of the injuries.
Relevant authorities responded to the incident and took the necessary measures, the ministry said.
Saudi energy infrastructure in focus
The incident comes amid escalating hostilities involving Yemen’s Houthi group and the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The Houthis have recently threatened to target Saudi energy infrastructure, including facilities operated by Saudi Aramco, as fighting in Yemen intensifies.
The attempted drone strike highlights the security risks facing energy infrastructure in the region, where attacks or attempted attacks can raise concerns over the safety of workers, the protection of critical facilities and the stability of oil supplies.
However, Saudi authorities have not, in the information provided, publicly attributed Wednesday’s attempted strike to a specific group.
The interception did not disrupt operations at Shaybah, one of Saudi Arabia’s major oil fields, according to the Energy Ministry.
