Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Saudi Arabia Restarts East-West Oil Pipeline After Drone Attacks
Saudi Arabia has started its East-West oil pipeline again.
The pipeline is moving oil, but only slowly for now.
Drone attacks had forced it to close.
The closure interrupted oil deliveries to the port of Yanbu.
Oil shipments from Yanbu had also stopped.
Sources said exports might restart on Tuesday.
The pipeline carries oil from eastern production areas to the Red Sea.
This route lets Saudi Arabia avoid sending that oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia restarted its East-West oil pipeline at a low pumping rate.
The pipeline had been shut after drone attacks disrupted the country’s oil infrastructure.
Crude exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu could resume on Tuesday.
The shutdown halted oil loadings from Yanbu and disrupted crude supplies to the port.
The pipeline provides an alternative route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia, with operations involving Saudi Aramco’s oil infrastructure.
- What
- The East-West oil pipeline restarted at a low rate, and Yanbu crude exports may resume.
- When
- The pipeline was restarted after the September 11 attacks and September 13 shutdown; exports could resume on Tuesday.
- Where
- The pipeline connects Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil-producing areas with the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
- Why
- Drone attacks disrupted the pipeline and oil loadings, while restarting it could restore some affected export capacity.
- Pipeline
- Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline
- Current operation
- Restarted at a low pumping rate
- Affected port
- Yanbu on the Red Sea
- Attacks
- Drone attacks occurred on September 11
- Shutdown
- The pipeline was shut on September 13
- Potential exports
- Yanbu crude exports could resume on Tuesday
- Strategic role
- The pipeline allows crude exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz