Trump telephones Saudi Crown Prince, discusses situations after drone attacks

President Donald Trump on Sunday telephoned Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman after attacks on two Saudi Aramco plants, including the world’s biggest oil processing facility.

Both the leaders discussed the situation after the recent drone attacks on the oil fields.

“The United States strongly condemns today´s attack on critical energy infrastructure. Violent actions against civilian areas and infrastructure vital to the global economy only deepen conflict and mistrust,” the White House said in a statement following a phone call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Trump offered Prince Mohammed “his support for Saudi Arabia´s self-defense,” the White House said, following an earlier statement from Riyadh saying the crown prince told Trump the kingdom was “willing and able” to respond to the attacks blamed on Yemeni rebels.

The drone strikes on the world’s biggest oil exporter come as state oil giant Saudi Aramco had accelerated plans for an initial public offering to as early as this year.

The extent of damage from the drone strikes in Abqaiq and Khurais provinces remains unclear.

Nine hours after the Pre-dawn attacks, Aramco had issued no statement and the authorities have not reported on casualties.