Drones struck a Saudi oil refinery on the Red Sea and triggered fires at two major refineries in Kuwait on Thursday, as Iran intensified attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure in retaliation for Israeli strikes.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry confirmed a drone crashed into the Samref refinery in Yanbu’s industrial zone, with damage assessment underway.
Yanbu serves as the endpoint for Petroline — Saudi Arabia’s overland oil pipeline that provides an alternative export route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, currently disrupted by Iran.
The attacks follow severe damage at Qatar’s Ras Laffan — the world’s largest gas hub — on Wednesday after Iranian retaliation targeted South Pars gas field.
In Kuwait, drones sparked fires at Mina Abdullah and Mina Al-Ahmadi refineries (combined capacity 800,000 barrels/day). Kuwait National Petroleum Company later said the blazes were contained.
Samref refinery processes around 400,000 barrels of crude per day.
Oil prices surged during the nearly three-week Middle East war, with Brent crude topping $115 a barrel on Thursday.
