Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh

Riyadh, Oct 22: At least two people were killed and two others injured after a drone attack targeted the Saudi Aramco oil facility at Shaybah in Saudi Arabia, officials said on Thursday.

The attack, suspected to have been carried out by Yemen-based Houthi rebels, occurred on Wednesday morning when Saudi Arabia’s military intercepted a drone attempting to target the facility.

Although the drone was intercepted, falling debris reportedly caused a fire in a contractor’s vehicle outside the oil field’s perimeter, killing two people identified as Filipino and Nepali nationals. Two others, an Indian and a Pakistani, sustained injuries due to falling debris.

The incident did not affect operations at the oil facility, according to authorities.

“The relevant authorities responded to the incident and took the necessary measures,” Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy said in a statement, extending condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

In a separate incident on Wednesday, an attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam reportedly killed one person and injured eight others. The injured are receiving medical treatment, while Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said the incident caused property damage that was being assessed.

Amid escalating security concerns, the United States has ordered non-essential embassy staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia.

US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the safety and security of department personnel and their families remained Washington’s highest priority.

He said Iran-backed Houthi rebels had increasingly targeted Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports and critical infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.

The attacks have also highlighted differences between Saudi Arabia and the United States over how to respond to the Houthi threat. Riyadh had earlier urged Washington to target the rebels, but US President Donald Trump decided against further action after the group assured that it would not target American assets in the region.

Meanwhile, Trump approved the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has also turned to other regional allies as it continues to face security challenges posed by the Houthis.