DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An oil storage facility in Saudi Arabia was hit by a barrage of drone attacks on Friday, in a marked escalation of tensions in one of the world’s most important regions for oil shipments.
State oil producer Saudi Aramco’s North Jeddah Bulk Plant — a storage facility — was hit, according to a person familiar with the matter. Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed a series of attacks on Aramco facilities on Friday, sending oil prices higher.
While the storage site targeted in Jeddah is focused on domestic needs, limiting the impact on the global crude market, the escalation of attacks is spooking oil traders, with crude already above $100 a barrel. Saudi Arabia warned this week that oil supplies are at risk, and called on the U.S. to do more to counterattacks from the Iran-backed Houthis — a message it reiterated Friday.
