Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its strategic East-West oil pipeline after a drone attack damaged the vital crude-oil route in the Riyadh and Medina regions. The 1,200-kilometre pipeline, operated by Saudi Aramco, connects oilfields in the east with the Red Sea port of Yanbu and has become particularly important as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted.
Saudi authorities said the drones originated from Iraq, causing injuries and damage to the pipeline infrastructure. Iraq has condemned the attack and launched an investigation, while Saudi Arabia has so far chosen not to retaliate, giving Baghdad an opportunity to take action against attacks launched from its territory. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the strike.
The disruption has raised fresh concerns over global energy supplies because the pipeline can transport around 4 million barrels of oil per day, equivalent to roughly 4% of global oil supply. With Saudi oil exports already under pressure, prolonged closure of the pipeline could further tighten global supplies and push crude prices higher, adding to inflationary pressures worldwide.