Saudi drone intercept leaves Filipino dead

A Filipino worker was among two foreign nationals killed by falling debris from an intercepted drone targeting a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield, the Saudi Energy Ministry said.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said Thursday it was awaiting a formal report from Saudi authorities and the company involved to verify the Filipino’s death and the circumstances of the incident.

“The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) received reports that a Filipino had reportedly died in an attack in Saudi Arabia,” OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan said.

Caunan said the agency was also awaiting information from the company’s representative and was ready to assist the victim’s family.

The Saudi Energy Ministry said air defenses intercepted the drone on Wednesday as it attempted to strike a facility at the Shaybah oilfield.

Debris from the interception killed a Filipino and a Nepali national and injured a Pakistani and an Indian national, the ministry said.

Repatriations

The falling debris also caused a fire in a contractor’s vehicle outside the facility’s perimeter, but oilfield operations were unaffected, it added.

The reported death comes amid heightened security concerns in Saudi Arabia following a series of drone and missile attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with Filipinos among those affected by recent incidents.

Earlier this month, seven Filipino workers were injured in attacks in Saudi Arabia, three of whom were initially reported to be in critical condition.

The Department of Migrant Workers said it was providing medical and financial assistance and arranging their repatriation, subject to their medical condition and clearance to travel.