Saudi Arabia Intercepts Two Drones Targeting Giant Oil Refinery

Saudi Arabia has intercepted two drones targeting the Ras Tanura oil refinery in the eastern part of the country. This occurred as tensions escalated in the Middle East following military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran.

According to media reports from Al Arabiya on Monday, 2 March 2026, Saudi Defence Ministry Spokesman Turki al-Maliki stated that debris from the intercepted drones caused “limited” fires. However, he assured that no civilians were injured.

Ras Tanura is one of the world’s largest oil refining and export facilities.

In response to Israeli and American strikes against Iran since Saturday, Iran has launched indiscriminate drone and missile attacks across various countries in the Middle East and the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Kingdom condemned the attacks on its territory and Gulf nations, emphasising their right to self-defence and the possibility of retaliation.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a joint statement following a video conference meeting on Sunday, 1 March local time to formulate a unified response.

The foreign ministers from six GCC nations—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, all of which have experienced Iranian retaliatory strikes—“reviewed the extensive damage caused by Iran’s dangerous attacks” and discussed measures to restore stability in the region.

These Gulf states “will take all necessary measures to maintain their security and stability and to protect their territory, citizens, and residents, including the option to respond to aggression,” according to the joint statement released following the meeting, as reported by Al Arabiya and AFP on Monday, 2 March 2026.

The statement also called for “an immediate cessation of these attacks,” adding that stability in “the Gulf region is not merely a regional matter, but a fundamental pillar of global economic stability.”