Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline Shut Down After Drone Attacks from Iraq
Saudi Arabia temporarily shut down its East-West pipeline after drone attacks from Iraq caused injuries and damage to pumping facilities, disrupting a vital export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline can transport up to 7 million barrels of crude oil per day from Saudi Arabia's eastern oil fields to Yanbu on the Red Sea.
The shutdown adds a new layer of risk to global energy markets already shaken by conflict involving Iran, the United States and regional armed groups. With oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz under severe pressure, the East-West pipeline had become Saudi Arabia's most important alternative route for maintaining crude exports to international customers.
The Energy Ministry said the East-West Pipeline was targeted multiple times on Thursday, September 10, in the Riyadh and Madinah regions. The ministry said it halted operations as a precaution while emergency teams secured the site, assessed the damage and began repair work. Several people were injured in the strikes.