Saudi Arabia closes East-West pipeline after drone strikes

Saudi Arabia has shut its East-West crude oil pipeline after a series of drone attacks launched from Iraq hit the line in the Riyadh and Medina regions, prompting a precautionary halt in operations. The kingdom said the strikes caused fires and some damage, and that several people were injured.

A critical route for crude exports

The pipeline is one of Saudi Arabia’s most important energy routes because it moves crude across the kingdom to Red Sea export terminals. With a capacity of 7 million barrels a day, it has long given Saudi Arabia a way to ship oil outside the Persian Gulf and reduce exposure to the Strait of Hormuz. Emergency teams were sent to secure the line and assess whether it is safe to restart.

The Saudi Energy Ministry said any further developments will be announced later. Riyadh has also said it is not retaliating for now, giving the Iraqi government time to act against attacks launched from its territory. That stance suggests the focus is currently on stabilizing the situation rather than widening the confrontation.

Pressure on oil markets

The shutdown comes at a sensitive moment for energy markets, with crude prices having risen sharply this week as fighting across the Middle East intensified. Oil briefly moved above $100 a barrel for the first time in months before ending the week more than 8% higher. Traders have been watching for any disruption to regional supply routes, and the pipeline attack added to those concerns.

Saudi Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser said last month that the East-West pipeline has been more effective in cushioning supply disruption from the war than the release of emergency stockpiles. That underscores why a precautionary closure of the line matters beyond the immediate damage. Even a temporary interruption can affect expectations around exports from one of the world’s biggest crude producers.

Iran-backed militants have increased attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent days, including strikes by Houthi fighters in Yemen that hit energy facilities and other civilian sites and injured more than 70 people, the Saudi government said. The latest drone attack extends that pattern and keeps pressure on Riyadh at a time when the kingdom is trying to protect both its infrastructure and its export flow.

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