United Nations, Sep 16 (IANS): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attacks on Aramco oil production facilities in the east of Saudi Arabia, his spokesman said.

In a statement released on Sunday, Stephane Dujarric said Guterres "condemns Saturday's attacks on Aramco oil facilities" in Saudi Arabia, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The secretary-general calls upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint, prevent any escalation amid heightened tensions and to comply at all times with international humanitarian law," he said.

The drone attacks were reported at dawn of Saturday with several explosions on Saudi Aramco plants in Khurais and Abqaiq in the east of the country, resulting in fires that were later controlled.

According to preliminary estimates, the explosions led to the interruption of a quantity of crude oil supplies estimated at 5.7 million barrels, or about 50 percent of the company's production.

Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed responsibility for the drone attacks on two Aramco oil plants in the east of Saudi Arabia, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

Aramco's industrial security teams controlled and extinguished the fire before the flames spread.

Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud announced on Sunday that the drone attacks caused temporary suspension of production at targeted oil plants.

An investigation has been launched, according to the Saudi Interior Ministry.