Indian injured as intercepted drone targets Saudi Arabia's Shaybah oilfield

Saudi air defences intercepted a drone targeting Shaybah oilfield, leaving two dead and two injured. The incident highlights mounting risks to expatriates near critical energy infrastructure.Dubai,Oct 22, 2026 12:40 ISTAn Indian national was injured in a drone attack targeting the Shaybah oilfield in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, officials said, according to news agency Press Trust of India. Two people were killed and another person was injured in the incident.The attack came amid an increase in drone and missile strikes by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on airports, energy facilities and other key infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the attempted attack.The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said it was in touch with the Saudi authorities and was awaiting further details. "The Embassy has learnt that one Indian national was injured in an attack at Shaybah oilfield today," it said in a social media post.The embassy said it would provide all necessary assistance to the injured Indian national, PTI reported. According to the Saudi Ministry of Energy, air defences intercepted a drone as it attempted to target a facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah field on Wednesday morning."Air defences thwarted an attempt to target the Shaybah field, with two deaths and two injuries among residents resulting from shrapnel falling after the interception," the ministry said in a statement. The interception caused a fire in a vehicle belonging to a contractor working at the oilfield. The vehicle was outside the facility's perimeter, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported, quoting an official source at the Ministry of Energy. The incident did not affect operations at the oilfield.A Filipino and a Nepali national were killed, while a Pakistani and an Indian national were injured. The authorities responded to the incident and took the necessary measures, according to the report.Shaybah is a major oilfield operated by state-owned Saudi Aramco in the Rub' al-Khali desert in southeastern Saudi Arabia, near the border with the United Arab Emirates. It is a significant part of Saudi Arabia's oil production infrastructure.The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen, have intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia. They have been engaged in a long-running conflict with Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition.The Shaybah incident followed an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh earlier this month. One Indian national was killed and several others were injured in that attack.India has strongly condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly those targeting civilian facilities and infrastructure, and has called for an immediate end to the hostilities.The Indian Embassy has advised Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain alert, follow instructions from local authorities and take shelter indoors during aerial attacks. It has also warned them against filming or sharing images and videos of drone or missile interceptions and impact sites, saying that doing so could lead to legal consequences under Saudi law.Saudi Arabia is home to a large Indian community employed across several sectors. According to the Indian mission, about 2.74 million Indians live in the country and form a living bridge between India and Saudi Arabia.In summary, the attempted drone attack on the Shaybah oilfield killed two foreign nationals and injured an Indian and a Pakistani, while oilfield operations remained unaffected. The Indian Embassy said it was coordinating with Saudi authorities and would assist the injured Indian national.With PTI Inputs- Ends