Saudi Arabia Shuts Down Vital Pipeline After Drones Attack From Iraq

Saudi Arabia has taken precautions by shutting down its East-West Pipeline after it was reportedly attacked by drones coming from Iraq. The pipeline, which spans over 1,200 kilometers and can transport oil from the Gulf to the Red Sea bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, was previously targeted in late July.

The attack on Thursday injured several people in the Riyadh and Medina regions, according to a source in the Energy Ministry cited by SPA. The US government officials also reported that pumping stations alongside the pipeline were struck by drones launched from Iraq, as seen in satellite images showing possible fires.

Saudi Arabia is the world's second-largest oil producer after the US, with a production rate of around 10 million barrels a day. The East-West Pipeline has taken on greater importance since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, as Riyadh uses it to reroute oil destined for tankers.