Drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s main oil pipeline; Global oil supplies likely to be affected

RIYADH: A drone attack has targeted Saudi Arabia’s major oil pipeline, the East-West Pipeline. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that several drones launched from within Iraqi territory struck the pipeline. The attacks targeted centres in the Riyadh and Medina regions.

The foreign ministry said the attack caused damage to the pipeline and that some people were injured. Operations on the pipeline have been temporarily suspended. Reports suggest that Iran-backed armed groups carried out the attack from Iraq. The closure of the pipeline could affect global oil supplies. Iraq condemned the attack and also closed the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran.

Amid tensions between the United States and Iran, Saudi Arabia relied on this pipeline to avoid transporting oil exports through the Persian Gulf. With a capacity of seven million barrels per day, the pipeline runs across Saudi Arabia to export terminals on the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy said emergency teams had been deployed to secure the pipeline and assess the damage. Meantime, the Foreign Ministry said Saudi Arabia had decided to refrain from retaliatory action for the time being, giving the Iraqi government time to prevent attacks originating from territories under its control.