Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut its strategic East-West oil pipeline after a series of drone attacks launched from Iraq damaged the facility and injured several people, raising fresh concerns over the security of the kingdom’s oil infrastructure.
The Saudi Ministry of Energy said the pipeline, which passes through the Riyadh and Madinah regions, was attacked on Thursday morning. The facility was subsequently closed as a precaution while emergency and technical teams worked to secure the site and assess the damage.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the drones had been launched from Iraqi territory. Riyadh condemned the attack but said it would not retaliate immediately after Iraq’s prime minister asked Saudi authorities to give Baghdad an opportunity to prevent further attacks originating from its territory.
“The Kingdom has opted not to respond at this stage and to support the efforts of the Iraqi government,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry nevertheless warned that Saudi Arabia reserved the right to take measures it considers necessary to protect its sovereignty, security, facilities, citizens and residents.
The East-West pipeline is particularly important because it provides Saudi Arabia with an alternative route for transporting crude to the Red Sea, allowing the kingdom to reduce its dependence on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The approximately 1,200-kilometre pipeline runs from Saudi Arabia’s oil-producing areas in the east to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. It has the capacity to transport millions of barrels of crude oil daily and is one of the kingdom’s most important strategic energy routes.
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Reuters reported that the pipeline had been carrying up to about five million barrels of oil per day, equivalent to roughly 4% to 5% of global oil supply.
The latest incident comes as the Middle East faces growing threats to major energy and commercial shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply normally passes, has already been at the centre of heightened regional tensions.
There have also been renewed security concerns around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Houthi forces in Yemen have intensified their activities in the region, adding to concerns about the safety of commercial vessels and the movement of energy supplies.
The disruptions have contributed to renewed pressure on global oil markets. Crude prices have risen above $100 a barrel as traders assess the potential impact of attacks on energy infrastructure and restrictions affecting important shipping routes.
Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest oil producers, meaning prolonged disruption to its infrastructure could have consequences beyond the kingdom. Any significant reduction in the amount of crude reaching export terminals could tighten global supplies and place additional pressure on already volatile markets.
Iraq has also taken steps following the attacks. Baghdad has launched measures to investigate the origin of the drones and prevent further attacks from Iraqi territory.
The incident has added another layer to the region’s security challenges and increased concerns that attacks on oil infrastructure could escalate tensions between neighbouring countries.
For now, Saudi authorities are focusing on securing the pipeline and assessing the damage, while Iraq faces pressure to identify those responsible and prevent similar attacks from being launched from its territory.
