RIYADH: The Kingdom is mourning the death of Saudi national Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Khaldi, a victim of Tuesday’s attacks on Saudi energy facilities.
An official source at the Ministry of Energy announced on Thursday that important energy facilities in the Kingdom had recently been subjected to multiple attacks, including oil and gas production, transportation, and refining facilities, as well as petrochemical facilities and the electricity sector in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Yanbu Industrial City.
The attacks resulted in the death of Al-Khaldi, and injuries to seven other Saudi individuals.
News outlets have reported that funeral prayers were held for Al-Khaldi, 44, on Tuesday at Al-Furqan Mosque in Dammam. Family and members of the community gathered to pay their respects.
Al-Khaldi’s passing drew widespread public attention from across the Kingdom online. Saudis, residents, diplomats, and government officials praised his bravery while honoring a hero who sacrificed his life to serve the Kingdom and protect its vital resources. They expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the fallen Saudi national.
Al-Khaldi’s passing drew widespread public attention from across the Kingdom online, with Saudis, residents, diplomats, and government officials praising his bravery. (Supplied)
The Supreme Authority for Industrial Security, where Al-Khaldi was employed, wrote on X that it “extends its sincere condolences and sympathies for … Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Khaldi — may God have mercy on him — one of the affiliates of industrial security at the Saudi Energy Company.”
A close family relative, Bandar bin Khaldi, told Arab News: “My cousin, my brother … May God have mercy on him and … those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of faith, king, and country. Allah, forgive them, have mercy on them, pardon them, and grant them an honorable place of rest.”
Badr Al Asaker, the head of the private office of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said on X: “May God have mercy … and accept him in the highest ranks. And may God heal the wounded with a swift healing. God, protect our country and our soldiers and our forces and our security and our Gulf and all the Muslim countries …”
A colleague who worked with Al-Khaldi, Faiz Ali Al-Khaleel, described Al-Khaldi as generous and kind, and added on X: “May God have mercy on my brother and colleague Jarrah Al-Khaldi. I knew him over the course of three months. He was generous, kind in character, and never missed a prayer. A smile never left his face when you met him.”
Saudi poet and columnist Abdul Latif Al-Sheikh said on X: “He departed with his body, but his legacy remained a source of pride in the annals of glory.
“Jarrah Al-Khaldi offered his soul as a sacrifice for our capabilities and the security of our energy.
“Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, and grant him residence in the highest paradise, and mend the broken hearts of his family.”
Al-Khaldi was killed amid strikes on important energy facilities in the Kingdom, which had recently been subjected to multiple attacks a Ministry of Energy statement confirmed on Thursday. (Supplied)
The Japanese Embassy of Saudi Arabia released a statement on Wednesday which condemned recent attacks and extended condolences to Al-Khaldi’s family.
It said: “The Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns the recent attacks on vital energy facilities in the Kingdom.
“We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and our sincere sympathy to those injured as a result of this attack."
A charity account has been started on the Ehsan platform in the name of Al-Khaldi for the care of orphans (campaign number: CW-2204612). It has already exceeded its SR50,000 goal, reaching SR62,000 as of Friday evening with over 2,788 donations.
