A ballistic missile struck Saudi Aramco’s administrative headquarters in Dhahran on the evening of October 13. The attack caused a fire and damaged the top floors of an office tower.
The strike came amid escalating regional conflict and renewed concerns about the security of oil supplies from the Persian Gulf and possible disruptions to major shipping routes. The complex houses a major Aramco operations center, which oversees the company’s extensive production and export network.
Oil prices surged on Wednesday as the attack overshadowed other market factors and highlighted the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure in the Middle East. Brent crude rose above $106 per barrel in early trading on October 14.