Saudi Pipeline Attack Puts Global Oil Supplies at Risk

A crucial Saudi oil pipeline attacked by drones will be out of service for weeks as damage is repaired, further restricting global petroleum supplies. The East-West Pipeline, which runs 1,200 kilometers across the country, was shut down after an attack on Thursday blamed on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

Repairing the damage could take three to five weeks, with partial functionality possible during that time. The pipeline transports about 4 million barrels of oil per day, roughly 4% of global supplies, according to earlier reports by Allison Minor, director of the Atlantic Council's Project for Middle East Integration.

The attack is part of a series of Houthi rebel strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure and shipping in the Red Sea. The rebels have also seized key islands along the Red Sea shipping routes, further straining efforts to get Saudi crude to market.