Saudi Arabia suspends main oil pipeline after drone attack from Iraq

Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted operations of the strategic East-West pipeline after the infrastructure was attacked by drones launched from Iraqi territory. The incident caused damage and injured several people, while Saudi authorities are assessing the consequences of the attack.

Riyadh’s decision was taken as a precautionary measure. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has stated that it does not currently plan to retaliate against Iraq. The Saudi Foreign Ministry declared that the kingdom will support the Iraqi government in efforts to prevent further attacks that could be launched from its territory.

Stretching about 1,200 kilometers, the East-West pipeline is one of the main nodes of the Saudi energy system. Through it, oil is sent to Red Sea ports, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global oil transport.

Data cited by Reuters shows that this pipeline has carried about 4–5% of global oil supply. For this reason, a prolonged closure could cause new concerns in international energy markets.

Iraq has confirmed that the attack originated on its territory. The office of the Iraqi prime minister announced the dismissal of the operations commander in Maysan province, after it was confirmed that the drones were launched from this border area with Iran. Authorities have also opened an investigation to shed light on the event.

Riyadh has emphasized that it reserves the right to take any necessary action to protect Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security, and strategic facilities, as well as its citizens and residents.

The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attack, describing it as a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to Saudi security and vital infrastructure.