Saudi Arabia’s largest refinery halts operations after Iranian drone attack; US jets crash in Kuwait

Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura Oil Refinery, the kingdom’s largest, temporarily suspended operations on Monday following an Iranian drone attack

Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura Oil Refinery, the kingdom’s largest, temporarily suspended operations on Monday following an Iranian drone attack. The facility, capable of processing 550,000 barrels of oil per day, was closed while Aramco assesses any potential damage. Authorities confirmed that fires at the site have been controlled.

Industry sources told Reuters that the closure was a precautionary measure, though Aramco itself did not issue a statement. The attack contributed to a noticeable rise in global oil prices. Analysts noted that this incident echoes a similar assault by Iran on Saudi oil facilities in 2019.

Meanwhile, in Kuwait, multiple US fighter jets crashed on Monday, though all crew members survived, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense confirmed. Videos analyzed by CNN showed an F-15E jet descending in a tailspin near Ali Al Salem Airbase, with the pilot safely ejecting via parachute.

Colonel Said Al-Atwan, spokesperson for Kuwait’s defense ministry, said search-and-rescue operations were immediately launched. The crews were taken to hospitals for evaluation and are reported to be in stable condition. Kuwait is coordinating closely with US authorities to investigate the cause of the crashes.

The incidents come amid heightened military operations in the Gulf, following a joint US-Israeli campaign targeting Iran. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), more than 1,000 military targets, including command centers, Iranian Navy vessels, and Revolutionary Guard installations, have been struck since the operation began Saturday. The US has deployed a broad range of assets to the region, including F-18s, F-16s, F-22s, F-35s, A-10s, MQ-9 Reaper drones, refueling aircraft, counter-drone systems, aircraft carriers, and guided-missile destroyers