Fires Caused by Drone Attacks on Major Saudi Oil Facilities ‘Under Control,’ Government Says

14
Sep
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Drone attacks on two Saudi Aramco factories in Abqaiq and Khurais provinces on Saturday sparked fires that the state oil company brought under control, the Saudi interior ministry spokesman said without identifying the source of the drones. 

The precise targets and the extent of possible damage were unclear. Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

>> Read more: Iran, Yemen and two more bleeding fronts awaiting Trump's next tweet | Analysis ■ Middle East tensions spike as Israel, Iran and U.S. engage in drone wars | Explained

Abqaiq, 60 km (37 miles) southwest of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, contains the world's largest oil processing plant. Khurais, 190 km further southwest, contains the country's second largest oilfield. 


Saudi security guard the entrance of the oil processing plant in Abqaiq, February 25, 2006.Stringer/AFP

Tensions are running high in the region after attacks in June and July on oil tankers in Gulf waters that Riyadh and Washington blamed on Iran. Tehran denies the accusations. 

Iran-aligned Houthi fighters in Yemen have also launched attacks over the border, hitting Shaybah oilfield with drones last month and two oil pumping stations in May. Both attacks caused fires but did not disrupt production. 

Security forces foiled an al-Qaida attack on Abqaiq in 2006. 

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