Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Thursday, March 19, 2026, that a drone fell on the SAMREF refinery located in the city of Yanbu. This refinery is located on the coast of the Red Sea and is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Exxon Mobil. A ministry spokesperson said officials are currently assessing the damage caused by the attack.
👉: Kuwait Refinery Attack: Drone attack on two oil refineries of Kuwait, 6 teams engaged in extinguishing the fire.
How much damage was caused by the attack on the refinery?
According to the Saudi Defense Ministry, the damage caused after the drone fell is being investigated. However, industry sources and Saudi Aramco have informed that the impact of this attack was very minor. There has been no major disruption in the operations of the refinery and work is going on normally. Security agencies are keeping an eye on the situation so that the oil supply and safety of employees is maintained.
Increasing attacks on oil facilities of Gulf countries
The attack is part of wider ongoing tensions in the region which have escalated significantly in the last 24 hours. On March 19, 2026 itself, other important places in the area were also targeted.
Locations affected Plants/Facilities Saudi Arabia SAMREF Refinery, Yanbu Kuwait Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah Refineries Qatar Ras Laffan Gas Site UAE Habshan Gas Plant and Bab Field Attack on a ship off the Strait of Hormuz UAE coast
A warning had already been issued by Iran regarding these attacks. IRGC had given notice to vacate the oil facilities of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar. Experts believe that this situation can become a matter of concern for oil prices in the international market and expatriates living in Gulf countries.