Iran-Backed Militias Strike Saudi Oil Pipeline, Sending Crude Prices Soaring
Iran-backed militias launched a coordinated attack on Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline and the Sharurah military base over a 48-hour period. The strike forced a precautionary shutdown of one of the world's most important energy arteries, causing Brent crude to surge past $100 per barrel.
The pipeline stretches roughly 1,200 kilometers across the Saudi desert, carrying an estimated 4-5% of the world's oil supply. This makes it not just a Saudi asset but a linchpin of global energy logistics.
According to reports, drone strikes launched from Iraq's Maysan province targeted the pipeline infrastructure on September 11-12, causing injuries and damage in the Riyadh and Medina regions. The Houthi forces in Yemen then fired missiles and drones at the Saudi military base in Sharurah on September 13.
The Iraqi government found itself in an uncomfortable spotlight due to the drone strikes originating from its territory. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi dismissed military commanders in the area where the launches occurred, and security forces conducted investigations, seizing a suspected drone launch platform.