Iran has intensified its attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, launching drone strikes on oil refineries in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Thursday.
In Saudi Arabia, a drone hit the Samref refinery located in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, triggering an ongoing damage assessment, according to the country’s defence ministry. The facility is strategically important as it serves as the endpoint of Petroline, a key pipeline that allows Saudi oil exports to bypass the vulnerable Strait of Hormuz, which is currently disrupted.
The latest strikes come a day after significant damage was reported at Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar—one of the world’s largest gas processing hubs—marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict. Iran says the attacks are in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its South Pars Gas Field.
In Kuwait, drones ignited fires at the Mina Abdullah and Mina Al-Ahmadi refineries, which together produce about 800,000 barrels of oil per day. The state-run Kuwait National Petroleum Company confirmed that the fires were later brought under control.
The Samref refinery in Yanbu has a processing capacity of roughly 400,000 barrels per day, underscoring the scale of the disruption.
Global oil markets reacted swiftly, with Brent crude prices climbing above $115 per barrel amid growing fears of prolonged supply disruptions as the Middle East conflict stretches into its third week.
