Drones attacked world's largest oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia and an oilfield operated by Saudi Aramco early Saturday, kingdom's Interior Ministry said, sparking a huge fire at a processor crucial to global energy supplies. one immediately claimed responsibility for attacks in Buqyaq and Khurais oil field, though Yemen's Houthi rebels previously launched drone assaults deep inside of kingdom.

It wasn't clear if re were any injuries in attacks, r what effect it would have on oil production in kingdom. attack also likely will heighten tensions furr across wider Persian Gulf amid a confrontation between US and Iran over its unraveling nuclear deal with world powers.

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Drone attack

Online videos apparently shot in Buqyaq included sound of gunfire in background and flames shooting out of Abqaiq oil processing facility. Smoke rose over skyline and glowing flames could be seen a distance away. fires began after sites were "targeted by drones," Interior Ministry said in a statement carried by state-run Saudi Press ncy. It said an investigation into attack was underway. Saudi Aramco, state-owned oil giant, did t immediately respond to questions from Associated Press. kingdom hopes soon to offer a sliver of company in an initial public offering.

Saudi Aramco

Saudi Aramco describes its Abqaiq oil processing facility in Buqyaq as " largest crude oil stabilization plant in world." facility processes sour crude oil into sweet crude, n later transports onto transshipment points on Persian Gulf and Red Sea. Estimates suggest it can process up to 7 million barrels of crude oil a day. plant has been targeted in past by militants. Al-Qaida-claimed suicide bombers tried but failed to attack oil complex in February 2006.

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re was immediate impact on global oil prices as markets were closed for weekend across world. Benchmark Brent crude h been tring at just above USD 60 a barrel. Buqyaq is some 330 kilometers (205 miles) rast of Saudi capital, Riyh. While group immediately claimed attacks, suspicion immediately fell on Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Iran backed Houthi VS Saudi Arabia -led coalition

A Saudi-led coalition has been battling rebels since March 2015. Iranian-backed Houthis hold Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and ar territory in Arab world's poorest country. war has become world's worst humanitarian crisis. violence has pushed Yemen to brink of famine and killed more than 90,000 people since 2015, according to US-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED, which tracks conflict.

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Since start of Saudi-led war, Houthi rebels have been using drones in combat. first appeared to be off--shelf, hobby-kit-style drones. Later, versions nearly identical to Iranian models turned up. Iran denies supplying Houthis with weapons, although UN, West, and Gulf Arab nations say Tehran does. rebels have flown drones into rar arrays of Saudi Arabia's Patriot missile batteries, according to Conflict Armament Research, disabling m and allowing Houthis to fire ballistic missiles into kingdom unchallenged. Houthis launched drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's crucial East-West Pipeline in May as tensions heightened between Iran and US.

UN investigators said Houthis' new UAV-X drone, found in recent months during Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen, likely has a range of up to 1,500 kilometers (930 miles). That puts far reaches of both Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in range. Houthi's Al-Masirah satellite news channel did t immediately ackwledge attack Saturday.

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Saudi Aramco Takes 20% Stake In Reliance's Refinery & Chemical Biz 

Mukesh Ambani on August 12 anunced that Saudi oil giant Aramco has agreed to take a 20 percent stake in his flagship Reliance Industries' oil refinery and chemical business at an enterprise value of USD 75 billion (around Rs 5,32,466 crore). Making anuncement at Reliance Industries' 42th annual general meeting, he said this would be biggest foreign investment in history of company. As part of deal, Saudi Aramco will supply 500,000 barrels per day or 25 million tonnes per annum, of crude oil to Reliance's twin refineries at Jamnagar in Gujarat. Saudi Aramco will take 20% stake in a proposed special purpose vehicle (SPV) housing twin refineries of Reliance as well as firm's petrochemical complex.

(With AP inputs)