Saudi Oil Pipeline Repairs Could Take Weeks Amid Houthi Attacks

A critical Saudi oil pipeline damaged in an attack will be mostly out of service for several weeks as repairs are made, two regional officials told AP. The East-West Pipeline, which runs 1,200 kilometers across the country, has been a crucial lifeline for Saudi Arabia's crude exports since the Iran war forced the kingdom to shift its shipments away from the Persian Gulf.

The pipeline was shut down after an attack on Thursday that Riyadh blamed on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. Repairing the damage, including at a major pumping facility, could take three to five weeks, the officials said. The pipeline may work partially during this time, but it's unclear how much oil will get through.

The Saudi oil company Aramco operates the pipeline, but neither they nor the government-run Center for International Communication responded to requests for comment on the repair timeline.