Oil giant Saudi Aramco reported Sunday a 124 percent net profit surge for last year, hours after Yemeni rebels attacked its facilities causing a "temporary" drop in production.

As the world economy started to rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic, "Aramco's net income increased by 124 percent to $110.0 billion in 2021, compared to $49.0 billion in 2020," the company said.

The results followed news of overnight drone and missile strikes by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels which caused no reported casualties but hit targets including Aramco facilities and a water desalination plant.

The drone assault on the YASREF refinery in Yanbu Industrial City on the Red Sea "led to a temporary reduction in the refinery's production, which will be compensated for from the inventory," the Saudi energy ministry said in a statement. It did not provide numbers.

An advert for Aramco in Riyadh -- the oil giant offered shares for the first time in 2019, and markets expect it to open up further, as Saudi Arabia seeks funds to diversify its economy
An advert for Aramco in Riyadh -- the oil giant offered shares for the first time in 2019, and markets expect it to open up further, as Saudi Arabia seeks funds to diversify its economy AFP / FAYEZ NURELDINE

The Saudi-led military coalition which backs Yemen's government said it intercepted and destroyed ballistic missiles and drones launched towards Jizan and other areas in the kingdom, causing "damage" to several sites.

"Initial investigations indicate the militia used Iranian cruise missiles that targeted Al-Shaqeeq desalination plant and Aramco's Jizan bulk plant," it said in a statement.

Targets included a Dhahran Al-Janoub power station, an Aramco gas plant in Yanbu and a gas station in Khamis Mushait, it said.

The Huthis confirmed they had launched the drone and missile attacks targeting a number of "vital and important" sites, including Aramco facilities.

Aramco's net income increased by 124 percent to $110.0 billion in 2021
Aramco's net income increased by 124 percent to $110.0 billion in 2021 AFP / Fayez Nureldine

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan denounced the "terrorist" strikes, saying Washington "will continue to fully support our partners in the defense of their territory from Huthi attacks".

In 2019, Huthi-claimed aerial assaults on two Aramco facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia temporarily knocked out half of the kingdom's crude production.

Huthi rebels supporters take to the streets of Sanaa on March 7, 2022 during a demonstration against the economic blockade imposed by the United States and Saudi Arabia on Yemen
Huthi rebels supporters take to the streets of Sanaa on March 7, 2022 during a demonstration against the economic blockade imposed by the United States and Saudi Arabia on Yemen AFP / MOHAMMED HUWAIS

The Saudi energy ministry said in its statement the attacks had targeted a gas plant and the YASREF refinery, which produces 400,000 barrels per day according to its website.

The kingdom, one of the world's top crude exporters, has been under pressure to raise output as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions against Moscow have roiled global energy markets.

Oil-rich Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, have so far resisted the pressure, stressing their commitment to the OPEC+ alliance of oil producers led by Riyadh and Moscow.

Aramco president and CEO Amin Nasser cautioned that the company's outlook remained uncertain due in part to "geopolitical factors".

A Ukrainian soldier with an anti-tank weapon that was used to destroy a Russian armoured personal carrier in Irpin, north of Kyiv, on March 12, 2022
A Ukrainian soldier with an anti-tank weapon that was used to destroy a Russian armoured personal carrier in Irpin, north of Kyiv, on March 12, 2022 AFP / Sergei SUPINSKY

Alluding to the effect price spikes have had on consumers, he noted that "energy security is paramount for billions of people".

"We continue to make progress on increasing our crude oil production capacity, executing our gas expansion program and increasing our liquids to chemicals capacity," Nasser said.

On the latest results, for 2021, he acknowledged that "economic conditions have improved considerably".

The oil giant had in 2019 achieved a net income of $88.2 billion before the pandemic hit global markets, resulting in huge losses for the energy and aviation sectors, among others.

A strong rebound last year saw demand for oil increase and prices recover from their 2020 lows.

Brent crude has repeatedly spiked above $100 per barrel lately, driven by supply concerns centred on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Saudi Aramco also said capital expenditure in 2021 was up 18 percent on 2020 at $31.9 billion, a figure it expected to raise to approximately $40 billion-$50 billion this year, before further growth.

Saudi Arabia has sought both to open up and diversify its oil-reliant economy, especially since Mohammed bin Salman's appointment as crown prince in 2017.

Aramco floated 1.7 percent of its shares on the Saudi bourse in December 2019, generating $29.4 billion in the world's biggest initial public offering.

In February, the kingdom shifted four percent of Aramco shares, worth $80 billion, to the country's sovereign wealth fund -- a move seen as a possible prelude to further opening up the oil giant.

The Iran-backed Huthis, against whom Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition in Yemen, have repeatedly targeted the kingdom, including Aramco's sites.

On Sunday evening, the coalition reported a new attack on an Aramco petroleum products distribution station in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, saying it caused a small fire.

In his statement, Sullivan said the Huthis were launching cross-border attacks "with enabling by Iran, which supplies them with missile and UAV components, training, and expertise".

"This is done in violation of UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting the import of weapons into Yemen," he added, calling on the Huthis to cooperate with the UN to de-escalate the conflict.