Air attack targets SAMREF refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu

The SAMREF refinery in Yanbu, located on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, was targeted in an air attack on Thursday, March 19, according to an industry source, who indicated that the resulting damage was minimal.

Reuters reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the evacuation of personnel from several oil facilities across the region, including sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The SAMREF refinery — operated as a joint venture involving Saudi Aramco — was among the facilities referenced.

The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions that have disrupted energy flows. With Iran effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which roughly 20% of global oil supplies typically pass, Yanbu has emerged as a key alternative export route for crude oil from Gulf Arab states.

By Tamilla Hasanova