Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Saudi Pipeline Shutdown Sends Oil Prices Higher, Threatens India Supply
Saudi Arabia temporarily shut an important oil pipeline after drone attacks damaged it.
The attacks reportedly came from Iraq and injured people.
The shutdown happened in parts of the pipeline near Riyadh and Madinah.
Saudi officials said it was a safety precaution.
They are checking whether the pipeline is safe to use again.
Oil prices rose by more than 3% after the news.
The pipeline can move millions of barrels of oil each day.
The article raises questions about what this could mean for India’s crude supply, but it does not give a definite answer.
Saudi Arabia shut its East-West pipeline after drone attacks struck sections in Riyadh and Madinah.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attacks originated from Iraq and caused material damage and injuries.
Riyadh described the shutdown as precautionary while safety assessments continue.
WTI and Brent crude prices rose by more than 3%, with Brent near $108 per barrel at filing.
The pipeline can carry 5–7 million barrels of oil daily and had helped ease supply disruption linked to the United States-Iran conflict.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia reported the shutdown after drone attacks attributed to Iraq; oil markets reacted.
- What
- The East-West oil pipeline was shut after attacks caused damage and injuries.
- When
- The shutdown and oil-price reaction were reported at the time of filing; no specific date is provided.
- Where
- The damage occurred in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh and Madinah regions.
- Why
- Saudi Arabia said the shutdown was a precaution while safety assessments continued after the attacks.
- Pipeline
- Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline
- Reported attackers’ origin
- Iraq
- Affected regions
- Riyadh and Madinah
- Pipeline capacity
- Up to 5–7 million barrels of oil per day
- Oil-price reaction
- WTI and Brent crude rose more than 3%
- Brent price
- Near $108 per barrel at the time of filing
- Saudi explanation
- The shutdown was precautionary pending safety assessments