Saudi Arabia's Critical Pipeline Shut Down After Drone Attack

The East-West crude pipeline in Saudi Arabia was shut down after a drone attack on Thursday, leaving multiple people injured. The pipeline, which stretches approximately 1,200 kilometers across the Arabian Peninsula, is a strategic asset that allows Saudi Arabia to bypass the risks of the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi officials said emergency response teams had been dispatched to secure the pipeline and inspect facilities, but no details have been released on the extent of the damage or a timeline for resuming operations. The attack has heightened uncertainty over Middle East crude supply prospects.

The pipeline, which operates at between 4 million and 5 million barrels per day in recent months, is equivalent to 4% to 5% of global supply. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said publicly last month that during the period of U.S.-Iran conflict disrupting oil supplies, the East-West pipeline had played an even greater role in mitigating supply shocks than the country's strategic crude reserves.