Saudi East-West Pipeline Attacked by Drones Launched From Iraq

Iraq condemns the attack, says Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi orders an investigation into those responsible.

Published On 11 Sep 202611 Sep 2026

Saudi Arabia has expressed its “strongest condemnation” after its East-West oil pipeline was struck by drones launched from Iraqi territory.

In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the kingdom said the pipeline was targeted in the Riyadh and Medina areas by “several drones originating from Iraq”, resulting in injuries and material damage.

However, Saudi Arabia said it would not retaliate for now following a request from Baghdad, while reserving the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security, and critical facilities.

“At the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister to allow the brotherly Iraqi government the opportunity to take the necessary measures to prevent attacks launched from Iraqi territory against the Kingdom and neighbouring countries, the Kingdom has chosen not to respond at this stage and to support the efforts of the Iraqi government,” said the statement posted on X.

Earlier, an official from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy told the state news agency SPA that the pipeline had been temporarily shut.

“The pipeline was stopped as a precaution, and the attacks resulted in some injuries,” the official said.

Iraq welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision to hold off on retaliation and said it “appreciates” Riyadh’s response to its efforts to contain the situation.

Iraq “condemns” the attack and affirms its “rejection of any aggression that threatens the Kingdom’s security and stability or harms the deep-rooted fraternal relations between the two countries,” said the statement issued by Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of Iraq’s Armed Forces.

“Iraq reiterates that its territory and airspace will not be used as a launching pad for aggression against any country,” it added.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has directed the opening of an investigation into the attack and those responsible, with Iraq stating it “will not tolerate any activity that jeopardises Iraq or its relations with brotherly and friendly countries”.

Satellite images from Copernicus Sentinel data taken on Thursday, seen by AFP, showed black smoke billowing near Medina along the East-West pipeline route that carries Saudi oil to its Red Sea coast.

Saudi Arabia has increasingly used the route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran’s ongoing closure of the strategic waterway.

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