2 killed, 2 injured after Saudi air defenses intercept drone targeting Aramco oil field

Two foreign nationals were killed and two others injured Wednesday after Saudi air defenses intercepted a drone attempting to target a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field in the country’s Eastern Province, the Energy Ministry said, Anadolu reports.

A ministry official said Saudi air defenses intercepted the drone as it attempted to strike one of the facilities at the oil field, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Debris from the interception sparked a fire in a vehicle belonging to a contractor working at the field, outside the facility’s perimeter, the official said.

The incident did not affect operations at the oil field, the ministry added.

The official identified the two fatalities as Philippine and Nepalese nationals, while the injured were Pakistani and Indian nationals.

Relevant authorities responded to the incident and took the necessary measures, according to the statement.

The incident comes amid escalating hostilities between Yemen’s Houthi group and the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

​​​​​​​The Houthis have recently threatened to target Saudi energy infrastructure, including facilities operated by Saudi Aramco, as fighting intensifies in Yemen.