Saudi Arabia: Saudi officials confirm Al-Houthi weaponized drone attack targeting Aramco facility in Riyadh March 19 /update 1

Event

Saudi authorities confirmed earlier reports of an Al-Houthi weaponized drone attack against an Aramco oil refinery in Riyadh the morning of March 19. The attack did not result in any casualties, though a limited fire was reported at the facility. The Al-Houthi rebels allege at least six weaponized drones were used in the attack. Neither the Al-Houthis nor Saudi authorities provided additional details concerning the exact location of the incident.

Authorities will almost certainly maintain heightened security around critical infrastructure sites in the coming hours. Additional attacks cannot be ruled out.

Context

The lack of objective sources covering the conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Al-Houthi rebels makes it challenging to independently verify reports of long-range weaponized drone and ballistic missile attacks or intercepts inside Saudi Arabia. Each side relies heavily on propaganda and misdirection in the media to shape the narrative to its policy objectives. As is often the case with reports of alleged drone or ballistic missile attacks or intercepts, neither Riyadh nor the Al-Houthi rebels provide much, if any, verifiable proof to support their respective claims.

This is not the first time that the Al-Houthi rebels have claimed to have struck an Aramco facility. The rebels claimed responsibility for the 2019 combined drone and missile strike against Aramco facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, Eastern Province. More recently, the rebels claimed to have been behind the March 7 unsuccessful drone and missile attack against Aramco facilities in Ras Tanura and Dhahran, Eastern Province. In both incidents, authorities expressed doubts about the validity of any Al-Houthi-claimed involvement in the attacks.

Advice

If officials report incoming artillery fire or drone activity in the general vicinity, stay indoors, away from windows and exterior walls; if possible, move to a ground floor or basement. Confirm that a thorough communication plan exists to ensure rapid accountability for all personnel operating in Saudi Arabia's border provinces. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation.