Saudi Arabia has raised its military to full combat readiness following a wave of Iranian drone and missile attacks that struck its most strategically important oil installation, drawing the kingdom deeper into a rapidly widening regional conflict.
A source close to the Saudi army confirmed to AFP on Monday that the military had raised its readiness levels following multiple attacks by Iran, while another source warned that a military response remained a possible option if Tehran continued to target the kingdom’s oil infrastructure.
The vast Ras Tanura refinery complex, operated by state oil giant Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabian Oil Company) on the kingdom’s Gulf coast, entered a partial shutdown after being struck by drones on Monday, three days into the ongoing Middle East war. The facility, which has a refining capacity of more than 550,000 barrels of crude oil per day, also serves as one of the world’s largest oil export terminals, making it a critical node in global energy supply chains.
Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry confirmed that some operations at the refinery had been halted following the attack, which triggered a fire at the sprawling complex. A defence ministry spokesman confirmed that two drones had targeted the refinery but were intercepted, according to a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The attack represented the first to result in major reported disruption to Saudi infrastructure since Iran began striking Gulf states on Saturday, in retaliation for the United States and Israel bombardment of Iranian territory. A direct threat to prized oil assets is widely seen as a potential red line for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has worked to remain neutral in regional conflicts in recent years to protect his ambitious economic diversification agenda.
Sources close to the Saudi government signalled that Riyadh was not yet prepared to act militarily but left the option firmly on the table. “It depends if this is seen as a direct attack on Aramco by the Iranian leadership or a rogue drone that just came close,” one source told AFP. “At this stage I think Saudi will watch and wait.” The same source warned, however, that Saudi Arabia would target Iranian oil facilities if Iran mounts a concerted attack on Aramco.
Separately, Iranian missiles targeting an air base near Riyadh that houses United States personnel were intercepted. It was the third consecutive day the base had been targeted.
Global oil markets reacted sharply to the developments, with Brent crude surging close to $80 per barrel, reflecting deep investor anxiety over potential sustained disruption to Gulf energy exports.
Risk analysts warned the strikes signal a dangerous new phase in the conflict. Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft, said the attack placed Gulf energy infrastructure squarely within Iran’s crosshairs and was likely to push Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states closer to aligning with United States and Israeli military operations against Tehran.
Saudi oil infrastructure has previously come under attack from Iran-backed Houthi rebels. In March 2022, the Houthis launched a drone strike targeting the YASREF refinery in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. A more devastating assault in 2019 on two Aramco facilities temporarily cut the kingdom’s crude output by roughly half.
