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    HomeWar / Conflict / TerrorismSaudi oil attacks: US blames Iran for drone strikes on two sites

    Saudi oil attacks: US blames Iran for drone strikes on two sites

    Media captionAbqaiq is the site of Aramco's largest oil processing plant

    US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed for Saturday's drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

    He dismissed a claim by 's Iran-backed Houthi rebels that they had attacked the two facilities, run by state-owned company Aramco.

    Iran's foreign minister accused Mr Pompeo of “deceit”.

    Saudi Arabia's energy minister said the strikes had reduced crude oil production by 5.7 million barrels a day – about half the kingdom's output.

    Correspondents say they could have a significant impact on world oil prices.

    The main Saudi stock exchange plummeted 3% on opening on Sunday, before recovering.

    Saturday's drone attacks hit Abqaiq, site of Aramco's largest oil processing plant, and the Khurais oilfield.

    The Saudis lead a Western-backed coalition supporting Yemen's government, in opposition to the Houthi rebel movement.

    The attacks also come against a backdrop of continuing tension between the US and Iran, following US President Donald Trump's abandonment of a deal limiting Iran's nuclear activities and reinstatement of sanctions.

    What did Mike Pompeo say?

    In a tweet, he said there was “no evidence” the drones came from Yemen.

    He described the attack as “an…

    Continue Reading This Article At BBC News

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