Attack on Saudi Arabia Came from Iran: US Official

The unidentified official said the US was gathering evidence about the attack to present to international community.

In this Saturday, 14 September, 2019 file photo, a satellite image from Planet Labs Inc. shows thick black smoke rising from Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq oil processing facility in Buqyaq, Saudi Arabia.

(Photo: AP)

The United States has concluded the weekend attack on Saudi oil facilities was launched from Iranian soil and cruise missiles were involved, a US official told AFP on Tuesday, 17 September.

The official, who declined to be identified, said the United States was gathering evidence about the attack to present to the international community, notably European allies, at the UN General Assembly next week.

Asked if Washington was certain that the missiles had been launched from Iranian soil, the official answered, “Yes.”

The weekend strikes on Abqaiq -- the world's largest oil processing facility -- and the Khurais oil field in eastern Saudi Arabia have roiled global energy markets.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Huthi rebels claimed responsibility for Saturday's attacks but Saudi Arabia accused Iran and President Donald Trump also singled out Tehran.

“Certainly, it would look to most like it was Iran,” Trump said Monday.