Saudi Oil Pipeline Damaged in Attack Will Be Out for Weeks

A critical Saudi oil pipeline that was hit in an attack last week will be mostly out of service for several weeks as damage is repaired, according to regional officials.

The East-West Pipeline, which spans 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) across the kingdom, plays a key role in Saudi Arabia's strategy to shift its oil exports to the Red Sea and avoid the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian attacks have disrupted shipping.

The pipeline can carry up to 7 million barrels of oil per day, making it a vital component of Saudi Arabia's oil export infrastructure.