Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Saudi Arabia were reportedly targeted by drone strikes on March 2, 2026, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
The attack is widely attributed to Iranian-backed groups (possibly Houthi forces from Yemen or IRGC-linked drones) in retaliation for:
- The death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israel strikes.
- Ongoing Operation Epic Fury targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites.
- Strikes on Iranian allies and proxies across the region.
This incident echoes the 2019 Abqaiq-Khurais attacks, which halved Saudi oil output temporarily and spiked global prices. Markets are reacting with caution: Brent crude rose ~3–5% in early trading amid fears of supply disruptions in the Persian Gulf.
The strikes heighten risks to global energy security, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and regional stability as the US-Israel-Iran war spills over to Gulf allies.