Drone strike on Saudi Shaybah oil field kills 2 foreign workers

A drone strike targeting Aramco's Shaybah oil field, a key petroleum facility in eastern Saudi Arabia, killed two foreign workers and wounded two others.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy said Wednesday (local time) that air defenses had intercepted drones aimed at the Aramco-operated Shaybah field in the kingdom's eastern region that morning.

According to ministry sources, debris from the interception fell on a vehicle belonging to a subcontractor working near the perimeter of the field, triggering a fire. Two workers — one Filipino and one Nepali — were killed, while a Pakistani national and an Indian national were wounded.

The ministry said relevant authorities responded swiftly to secure the scene and take necessary safety measures, and that core operational processes at the field were unaffected. It also extended "deep condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured."

The Shaybah field, operated by Aramco, is one of the largest oil fields in the world. It sits deep in the Rub' al Khali desert in southeastern Saudi Arabia, near the border with the UAE.

The field is considered a cornerstone of the Saudi economy, producing around 1 million barrels per day of Arabian Extra Light crude. It was also targeted in a large-scale drone attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels in August 2019.