Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline Attacked by Drones

Saudi Arabia's critical East-West oil pipeline system was struck by multiple drone attacks on Thursday. According to U.S. officials, projectiles hit pumping stations along the pipeline corridor, causing extensive fire damage and thick black smoke in western Saudi Arabia.

NASA FIRMS detected large fires near the East-West pipeline, while Sentinel-3 imagery showed a massive plume of black smoke stretching across the region. The attack is believed to have originated from Iraq, although responsibility has not been established.

The East-West pipeline is a vital bypass around the Strait of Hormuz and one of Saudi Arabia's most important crude export routes. It carries approximately 7 million barrels per day (bpd) towards Yanbu on the Red Sea, with a capacity to reroute about 5 million bpd after the recent U.S.-Iran war disrupted trade through the strait.

Saudi Aramco and the Saudi government have not commented publicly on the incident. The attack is part of a series of attacks targeting Saudi energy infrastructure in recent weeks, with multiple facilities hit in the kingdom's south earlier this week.