Saudi Arabia intercepts two drones targeting Ras Tanura refinery

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said Monday that two drones attempting to attack the Ras Tanura oil refinery were intercepted and destroyed.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the interception operation led to falling debris, which caused a limited fire but no civilian injuries.

He added that debris fell near civilian facilities and residents during the interception.

In a separate statement, an official source at the Ministry of Energy said that at 7:04 a.m. Monday, the Ras Tanura petroleum refinery sustained limited damage due to debris resulting from the interception of two drones in the vicinity of the facility.

The source said the debris caused a minor fire that was immediately contained by emergency response teams. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Some operational units at the refinery were temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure, the source added, but petroleum supplies and derivatives to local markets were not affected.