Drone attacks caused fires in two major Saudi Aramco facilities in the kingdom, reported Arab News, citing the Saudi interior ministry on Saturday.

 

One strike hit the oil company’s Abqaiq facility, which is near Dammam in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, while another attack hit Khurais oil field, a ministry security spokesperon was reported by state news agency SPA as saying.

 

Aramco’s industrial security teams have controlled the blazes and their spread in Aramco’s two facilities were limited, the ministry added, stating that further investigations are being undertaken regarding the incidents.

 

Though there was no offical word from the Saudi ministry with regard to the cause of the incident, BBC quoted a spokesman for the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen as saying that it had deployed 10 drones in the attacks.

 

The military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, told Al Masirah TV, which is owned by the Houthi movement and is based in Beirut, that further attacks could be expected in the future.

 

He said Saturday's attack was one of the biggest operations the Houthi forces had undertaken inside Saudi Arabia.

 

The UAE, meanwhile, strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Saudi Aramco facilities.

 

In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation denounced this terrorist and subversive act, saying it is new evidence of terrorist groups looking to undermine security and stability in the region.

 

The UAE reiterated its complete solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its stand with the kingdom against all threats to its security and stability, and its support for all measures taken for the security and safety of its citizens and residents.

 

"The security of the UAE and Saudi Arabia is inseparable. Any threat to Saudi Arabia is seen as a threat to the stability and security of the UAE," the ministry added.