Saudia Arabia's energy ministry says a "limited fire" at the Ras Tanura refinery - which is run by the country's state oil company, Aramco - has been brought under control.

The statement - shared by the Saudi Press Agency - says the refinery sustained "minor damage from falling debris" due to the interception of "two drones in the refinery's vicinity". It adds that the fire was "immediately dealt with" by emergency services, with no injuries or fatalities.

Video verified by the BBC shows a fire and large plumes of smoke billowing from the refinery.

Saudia Arabia has long hosted US and western military forces, and on Saturday its government issued a statement condemning "blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks".

These attacks were "successfully intercepted" and targeted the Riyadh Region and Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia said.

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[–] JoeByeThen@hexbear.net 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I don't even think this counts as blowback, does it? It's just plain old retaliation.

[–] happybadger@hexbear.net 3 points 1 month ago

I think it's blowback in the short and long term. The Saudis have been off-and-on hostile toward Iran for decades. It's been escalating with proxy wars, and then the Iranian support for their proxies is the basis for the aggressive expansionist narrative the west uses to make them a threat. MBS has also been cited as one of the people pushing Trump toward this current war.

[–] SteamedHamberder@hexbear.net 3 points 1 month ago