Saudi Arabia's Oil Exports Disrupted by Drone Attacks on East-West Pipeline
Saudi Arabia's oil exports took a hit after several drones attacked the East-West Pipeline and other facilities, forcing the kingdom to temporarily shut down the pipeline. The Saudi Ministry of Energy confirmed the attack on Thursday in the regions of Riyadh and Medina, resulting in injuries.
The pipeline, which runs approximately 750 miles from eastern Saudi Arabia to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast, transports between 4 million and 5 million barrels of oil per day. The strategic importance of the East-West Pipeline lies in allowing Saudi Arabia to transport oil to the Red Sea without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The attack was attributed to drones launched from Iraqi territory, according to a statement by the Saudi government. In response, the kingdom said it would not retaliate, giving the Iraqi government 'the opportunity to take the necessary measures.' The Iraqi government condemned the attack and ordered an investigation into the incident.