Saudi Aramco Shaybah Field Drone Attack Kills Two; Oil Briefly Tops $110 as U.S. Pulls Diplomats

Saudi air defenses intercepted a drone targeting Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil processing facility on Wednesday morning, killing two expatriates and wounding two others, the Energy Ministry said. Falling debris ignited a contractor vehicle outside the facility, though operations were unaffected. Brent crude briefly rose to about $110.33 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate to $98.41 in post-settlement trade, driven by the attack and reports that Washington would evacuate diplomats from Gulf embassies. Gains pared after the State Department clarified that the mandatory departure order applied only to non-essential personnel and family members at the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Saudi Arabia. The dead were Filipino and Nepalese nationals; the injured were Pakistani and Indian, authorities said. No group was identified as responsible. The strike comes as fighting escalates between Yemen's Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces, with attacks reported at Aden and Riyan airports.