Saudi Arabia closed its critical East-West crude oil pipeline on Friday following drone strikes launched from Iraqi territory, the Saudi energy ministry and foreign ministry confirmed, according to reports by Reuters and BBC News.
The official statement from Riyadh noted that multiple drones targeted pipeline infrastructure running through the Riyadh and Madinah provinces. The strikes caused injuries among personnel and damaged pumping stations along the route, with repair teams immediately deployed to inspect the site.
Satellite imagery confirmed scorched terrain and dark smoke rising from affected pumping facilities.
The 1,200-kilometer line serves as the central artery moving crude from Saudi Arabia’s eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. It has provided the kingdom with a crucial path to bypass the heavily contested Strait of Hormuz. Tanker tracking data and market analysts indicate the pipeline had been transporting between four and five million barrels per day, representing roughly four to five percent of the entire global oil supply.
The Iraqi government acknowledged the origin of the assault and issued a formal condemnation. Baghdad confirmed the drones were launched from Maysan province near the Iranian border. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered the dismissal of the regional operations commander and initiated an investigation to track down those responsible.
Saudi authorities stated they have deferred any immediate retaliatory military action to give Iraqi leaders space to curb cross-border aggression. The foreign ministry emphasized that Riyadh retains the sovereign right to safeguard its territory, facilities, and civilian population against external strikes.
The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attack as an unacceptable escalation against regional energy infrastructure.
The shutdown comes amid fresh disruptions along southern maritime routes, where Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed advances across Red Sea coastal zones, including Mayun Island inside the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the port of Mokha. Global crude prices surpassed $100 per barrel following the incident, while Saudi officials have yet to provide an official date for the resumption of pipeline flows.
