Saudi Oil Pipeline Temporarily Shuts Down After Drone Attacks

Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline has been temporarily shut down after attacks on pumping stations sparked fires in the Riyadh and Madinah regions.

The pipeline, which carries crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, is strategically important as it allows Saudi exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping corridor that has faced disruption during the regional conflict.

The attacks also caused injuries and damage at facilities in the two regions, according to CNN, which cited U.S. officials who said an early assessment indicated drones used in the strikes may have originated from Iraq.

Iraqi authorities condemned the attack and opened an investigation to determine who was responsible for the incident.