Saudi Arabia closed its East-West oil pipeline on Thursday after multiple drone strikes targeted critical infrastructure in the Riyadh and Medina regions, injuring several people. The 7-million-barrel-per-day pipeline, a key alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, was shut as a precautionary measure, according to the Saudi Ministry of Energy.
The Saudi foreign ministry condemned the attacks, stating they originated from Iraqi territory and caused human injuries and damage. The ministry emphasized that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security, while also noting it would support Iraqi efforts to prevent future attacks.
Iraq confirmed the drone strikes began in its territory and announced the dismissal of a military commander in Maysan province, where investigations traced the origin of the attacks. Iraq’s government condemned the assault and pledged to address the issue.
Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the escalation, capturing a strategic island at the southern entrance to the Red Sea and targeting Saudi energy facilities in Abha, Najran, and Jazan. U.S. officials reported that projectiles struck pump stations along the East-West pipeline, though Saudi Arabia and Aramco did not immediately confirm the extent of the damage.
Oil prices surged following the attacks, with Brent crude rising over 8% to $104.56 per barrel by Friday, as markets assessed the potential disruption to global energy supplies. The pipeline’s closure threatens to further strain Saudi Arabia’s oil export capacity, which has increasingly relied on the East-West route amid regional instability.
Saudi Arabia and the U.S. previously targeted Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in July after blaming them for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Regional officials told the Associated Press that the Houthis collaborated with Iraqi militias in planning and executing the strikes.
Emergency teams were deployed to secure the pipeline and assess its safety, with the Ministry of Energy stating that further developments would be announced as they occurred. The pipeline, which links Abqaiq near the Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, has become a critical lifeline for Saudi oil exports amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.