Saudi Energy Ministry Condemns 'Terrorist' Drone Assaults on Kingdom's Facilities

The spokesman renewed the Kingdom's call to all nations and organizations of the world to stand together against such acts of sabotage and terrorism by groups perpetrating or supporting these attacks.
The spokesman renewed the Kingdom's call to all nations and organizations of the world to stand together against such acts of sabotage and terrorism by groups perpetrating or supporting these attacks.
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Saudi Energy Ministry Condemns 'Terrorist' Drone Assaults on Kingdom's Facilities

The spokesman renewed the Kingdom's call to all nations and organizations of the world to stand together against such acts of sabotage and terrorism by groups perpetrating or supporting these attacks.
The spokesman renewed the Kingdom's call to all nations and organizations of the world to stand together against such acts of sabotage and terrorism by groups perpetrating or supporting these attacks.

An official spokesman at the Saudi Ministry of Energy said that on Saturday at around 11:30 pm, a drone assault was carried out against the petroleum products distribution terminal in Jizan in southeastern Saudi Arabia.

Two additional drone attacks were carried out on Sunday at around 5:30 am against Yanbu’s natural gas plant, and shortly after, against the facilities of Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (YASREF).

The assault on YASREF facilities led to a temporary reduction in the refinery’s production, which will be compensated for from the inventory. The assaults resulted in no casualties.

In his statement, the spokesman stressed that the Kingdom strongly condemns these attacks and said that such acts of sabotage and terrorism, repeatedly carried out against vital installations and civilian facilities, including, for example, the recent attack on the Riyadh refinery, are cowardly assaults that violate international laws and norms and do not just target the Kingdom alone, but the security and stability of energy supplies to the world, therefore targeting the global economy.

In addition, some of these attacks affect maritime traffic in an important area - the Red Sea and its important coasts and territorial waters, with potentially serious environmental consequences.

The spokesman renewed the Kingdom's call to all nations and organizations of the world to stand together against such acts of sabotage and terrorism by groups perpetrating or supporting these attacks.



Qatar PM Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks Make Some Progress

FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
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Qatar PM Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks Make Some Progress

FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo

Qatar's prime minister said on Sunday that efforts to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza have made some progress but an agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war remains elusive.

"We have seen on Thursday a bit of progress compared to other meetings yet we need to find an answer for the ultimate question: how to end this war. That's the key point of the entire negotiations," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, Reuters reported.

Mossad Director David Barnea traveled to Doha on Thursday to meet Sheikh Mohammed amid efforts to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza, Axios reported last week.

Sheikh Mohammed didn't say which elements of the ceasefire talks had progressed in recent days, but said Hamas and Israel remained at odds over the ultimate goal of negotiations.

He said the militant group is willing to return all remaining Israeli hostages if Israel ends the war in Gaza. But Israel wants Hamas to release the remaining hostages without offering a clear vision on ending the war, he said.

"When you don't have a common objective, a common goal between the parties, I believe the opportunities (to end the war) become very thin," Sheikh Mohammed said at a press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Fidan said talks Turkish officials have held with Hamas had shown the group would be more open to an agreement that goes beyond a ceasefire in Gaza and aims for a lasting solution to the crisis with Israel, including a two-state solution.

Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18 after a January ceasefire collapsed, saying it would keep up pressure on Hamas until it frees the remaining hostages still held in the enclave. Up to 24 of them are believed to still be alive.

The Gaza war started after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack. Since then, Israel's offensive on the enclave killed more than 51,400, according to local health officials.