Saudi East-West Pipeline Halts After Fresh Attack on Key Infrastructure

Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline has been halted once again following a fresh attack on its critical infrastructure. A source in the kingdom’s energy sector confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the pipeline was targeted at a pumping station near Khurais, east of Riyadh. The attack caused significant damage, forcing another shutdown of the vital oil transport route.

The incident comes just a day after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting Saudi oil giant Aramco facilities, including sites in Khurais. The Houthis asserted that their missile and drone strikes successfully hit their targets, causing large fires. Saudi authorities have not yet responded to these claims.

The East-West pipeline, which spans about 1,200 kilometers, connects Saudi Arabia’s main oil fields in the east to the Yanbu terminal on the Red Sea. It has become crucial for Saudi oil exports since Iran began blockading the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting the kingdom’s primary export route. The pipeline was previously shut down in September following attacks on oil facilities originating from Iraq.

The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated that the attacks were in response to alleged Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks on Yemen. He threatened further strikes on Saudi sites and oil facilities until the attacks cease and what he described as a ‘blockade’ on Yemen is lifted. Meanwhile, Yemen’s government has intensified military operations against the Houthis following the collapse of a 2022 truce and escalating fighting in September.