[Saudi Halts Oil Export Pipeline After Iraqi‑Drone Attacks]
Saudi authorities announced Friday that drones launched from Iraq were responsible for briefly shutting down a vital oil export route that bypasses the locked Hormuz Strait.
Since the outbreak of regional conflict, Riyadh has accelerated reliance on the East‑West pipeline, which links Abqaiq in the Gulf to Yanbu on the Red Sea, to evade the Hormuz closure enforced by Iran.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the targeting of the East‑West pipeline in Riyadh and Medina by multiple drones originating in Iraq, noting that the assaults caused injuries and damage.
“The pipeline was shut down as a precautionary measure, and the strikes resulted in several injuries,” an energy minister told the SPA news agency earlier.
Thursday satellite imagery from Copernicus Sentinel Data shows black smoke billowing near Medina, tracing the usual course of the East‑West pipeline that transports Saudi crude to the Red Sea coast.
The incident occurs as Houthi forces in Yemen have seized the strategic island of Perim in the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, expanding their influence over this critical maritime chokepoint.
Iraq’s prime minister confirmed via X that the attacks originated within Iraqi territory and that the commander of the Maysan province had been dismissed.
The Iraqi government denounced the strikes aimed at Saudi allies that began in a governorate‑level location.
Riyadh stated, per the prime minister’s request, it will postpone a formal response at this stage while it supports Iraq’s efforts to counter threats emerging from Iraqi soil against the Kingdom and nearby nations.
Earlier, Riyadh had accused Iranian‑backed militant groups of targeting its oil infrastructure; nonetheless, it reaffirmed its right to employ any necessary actions to defend its sovereignty, security, assets, and citizens.
Bahrain, Jordan, and Qatar have echoed Saudi calls for condemnation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council labeled the action “a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to the kingdom’s security”.
Global oil prices have slipped above $100 per barrel this week, while U.S. diesel prices surged past $6 per gallon for the first time on Friday—pressures that could affect President Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections.
In July, Houthi rebels declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia—a state backing the Yemeni government—and launched attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea.
By capturing the Yemeni Red Sea coastline and key islands in the Bab al‑Mandab Strait on Friday, the Houthis solidified their dominance over the vital passage linking Europe and Asia.
Houthi leadership asserted that navigation through the Bab al‑Mandab Strait remains safe for all participants except Saudi Arabia following the latest advances.
