Hybrid Tactics Come of Age

Implications of the Aramco Attack

Abstract

On September 14, 2019, Saudi Arabia's state-owned Aramco's oil facilities were hit by a swarm of 18 drones and seven cruise missiles. Located in the eastern province in the capital city of Dammam, the Abqaiq oil facility and Khurais oil field are protected by a massive air defence system installed jointly by Saudi Arabia and the US. With a market value worth of US$2 trillion and reserves 10 times bigger than Exxon Mobil, Aramco is crucial not only to Saudi Arabia and the region but to the entire world! Therefore, naturally, the attack on the sites at once shut down 5 percent of the world's oil supply, and oil prices rose up by 20 percent. Even though the functioning of the sites and oil production was reportedly resumed in two weeks' time, the attack had serious implications in terms of the security apparatus as well as vulnerability.