Drone Attack Damages Saudi Oil Pipeline

Saudi Arabia's key East-West oil pipeline has been damaged in a drone attack from Iraqi territory near the Iranian border, forcing the temporary shutdown of the pipeline. The damage could take weeks to repair, potentially severely impacting crude oil flows from the Middle East.

The pipeline, which spans 750 miles and serves as a vital export route for Saudi Arabia's crude oil, has been relied upon since the Iran war began and the Strait of Hormuz was closed to shipping traffic. The East-West pipeline allows Saudi Arabia to reroute its exports from the western ports in the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

Repairs are expected to take three to five weeks, according to regional officials briefed on the matter. However, it is unclear how much oil can be shipped through a partially-operational pipeline. The shutdown has left Asian refiners uncertain about their oil loadings at the port of Yanbu.