A drone attack targeting Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil field, a key petroleum facility in eastern Saudi Arabia, has left two foreign workers dead and two others injured.

In a statement released on the 21st local time, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Energy announced that air defense systems intercepted drones targeting the Aramco Shaybah oil field facility in the eastern region that morning.

According to a source from the Ministry of Energy, debris that fell immediately after the interception struck a vehicle belonging to an on-site subcontractor located on the outskirts of the oil field, causing a fire.

As a result, two nationals from the Philippines and Nepal lost their lives, while two nationals from Pakistan and India were injured.

The Ministry of Energy stated that relevant authorities promptly responded to handle the site and implement necessary safety measures, and that no impact or disruption occurred to the main operating processes of the oil field.

It also added, "We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured."

The Shaybah oil field, which was the target of this attack, is one of the world's largest oil fields operated by Aramco and is located deep in the Rub' al Khali desert in southeastern Saudi Arabia, near the border with the United Arab Emirates.

It is considered a core infrastructure of the Saudi economy, producing approximately 1 million barrels of Arabian Extra Light crude oil per day.

It was also targeted in a large-scale drone attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels in August 2019.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)