Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Saudi Arabia Suspends East-West Oil Pipeline After Iraq-Linked Drone Attacks
Saudi Arabia temporarily stopped an important oil pipeline after it was attacked.
The attacks happened on Thursday in the Riyadh and Madinah regions.
Several people were hurt.
Saudi Arabia said drones launched from Iraq carried out the attacks.
Workers were sent to inspect and protect the pipeline.
The pipeline moves oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to ports on the Red Sea.
This route helps Saudi Arabia avoid sending all its oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia said it would wait before responding militarily after Iraq's prime minister asked it to.
The attacks increased worries about oil supplies and pushed weekly oil prices higher.
Saudi Arabia temporarily halted its East-West oil pipeline after multiple attacks in the Riyadh and Madinah regions.
The Energy Ministry said several people were injured and emergency teams were assessing and securing the facility.
Saudi Arabia later attributed the attacks to drones launched from Iraq and said it would not retaliate immediately.
The pipeline carries crude from eastern oil fields to Red Sea terminals, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
The attacks heightened oil-supply concerns as crude prices ended the week more than 8 percent higher.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh later attributing the attacks to drones launched from Iraq.
- What
- The East-West oil pipeline was temporarily shut after multiple attacks.
- When
- The attacks occurred Thursday morning, and the precautionary shutdown was announced Friday.
- Where
- The pipeline was targeted in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Madinah regions; it carries oil to Red Sea export terminals.
- Why
- The pipeline was closed as a precaution while emergency teams assessed and secured it after the attacks.
De-escalation
Security Response
How Saudi Arabia should respond
De-escalation
Saudi Arabia should avoid immediate retaliation, allowing Iraqi authorities time to prevent attacks originating from Iraq, consistent with Riyadh's decision to hold back after the Iraqi prime minister's request.
Security Response
Saudi Arabia said it reserved the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and critical infrastructure.
Importance of alternative export routes
De-escalation
The East-West pipeline provides an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz and can help Saudi Arabia move oil to the Red Sea.
Security Response
The attacks showed that alternative routes also face security risks, particularly amid threats involving the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and regional energy infrastructure.
- Pipeline capacity
- 7 million barrels per day
- Pipeline route
- From Saudi Arabia's eastern oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and other export terminals
- Reported injuries
- Several people were injured in the attacks
- Saudi response
- Saudi Arabia said it would not retaliate immediately after a request from Iraq's prime minister
- Possible damage
- Satellite imagery showed possible fire damage at one pumping station and multiple fires near the pipeline, though some sites were identified as flare pits
- Current oil prices
- Brent fell 2.8 percent to $104.61 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate fell 2.4 percent to $100.05
- Weekly oil movement
- Crude prices ended the week more than 8 percent higher
