Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has condemned attacks on vital and civilian facilities, the latest in the eastern Saudi region of Abqaiq.
The Qatari foreign minister, in a tweet on Monday, stressed the need to stop wars and conflicts. He called for concerted efforts to achieve common collective security in the region.
An attack believed to have been carried out by drones or cruise missiles targeted two oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, one of which is the Abqaiq oil processing plant, the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil production and export infrastructure and the world's largest oil refinery, causing unknown damage. The Yemeni Houthi group claimed responsibility for the attack.
We condemn attacks on vital and civilian facilities, most recently Abqaiq. These wars and conflicts must stop and efforts must be made to achieve common collective security in the region. - Mohammed bin Abdulrahman (@MBA_AlThani_) September 16, 2019 |
The Abqaiq crude oil refinery is the most important facility in the Saudi oil sector.In 2018, it processed about half of the Kingdom's crude oil production, or about five million barrels per day, or one in twenty barrels of oil used worldwide.
The Houthi group on Monday confirmed responsibility for the attack on the facilities of Saudi Aramco in the east of the kingdom, saying it was carried out by drones operating with normal engines and jet engines. Iran, another Iraqi said it was launched from southern Iraq.
"The oil processing plants of Saudi Aramco are still in their range (the Houthi group) and may be targeted at any moment," Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Sari said in tweets on his Twitter account.
He warned companies and foreigners not to stay in the Saudi oil giant's plants, stressing his group's ability to strike anywhere in the kingdom.
The Houthis said their air force launched a massive offensive last Saturday with 10 drones targeting the refineries of Abqaiq and Khurais in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia.