Saudi Arabia Shuts East-West Oil Pipeline After Drone Attacks Launched From Iraq

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The latest attack therefore raises fresh concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia’s critical energy infrastructure and the wider impact of the conflict on global oil supplies.

In a separate statement, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack, saying the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions had been targeted by several drones originating from Iraq.

The ministry confirmed that the attacks caused injuries and material damage, which authorities are currently working to address.

However, Riyadh has decided not to immediately retaliate against the suspected launch of the drones from Iraqi territory.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the decision followed a request from the Iraqi prime minister, who asked Saudi Arabia to give the Iraqi government an opportunity to take the necessary measures to prevent attacks launched from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries.

Saudi Arabia said it had therefore chosen, at this stage, to support the efforts of the Iraqi government rather than respond militarily.

The Kingdom nevertheless made clear that it considers the security of its territory and critical infrastructure a priority.

Saudi authorities said the country reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security, facilities, citizens and residents.

The incident has also increased pressure on Iraq to prevent its territory from being used as a launch point for attacks against neighbouring countries.

The Gulf Cooperation Council has condemned the attack, describing it as a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to Saudi Arabia’s security, territorial integrity and vital infrastructure. The GCC has called on the Iraqi government to intensify efforts to prevent its territory from being used to launch such attacks.

The attack comes at a particularly sensitive moment for international energy markets.

The East-West Pipeline has become increasingly important as Saudi Arabia seeks alternative routes for exporting crude oil amid continuing instability around the Strait of Hormuz and other key shipping routes in the region.

Any prolonged disruption to the pipeline could therefore have consequences beyond Saudi Arabia, particularly if it limits the kingdom’s ability to move crude from its eastern oil fields to Red Sea export facilities.

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s major oil producers, meaning disruptions to its production or export infrastructure are closely watched by energy markets and governments around the world.

For now, Saudi authorities have not announced how long the East-West Pipeline will remain shut.

The Ministry of Energy said further developments would be announced when appropriate, while technical and emergency teams continue their assessment of the pipeline and work to ensure that it is safe before operations can resume.

The incident also adds another layer to the growing security challenges facing energy infrastructure across the Middle East, where drones, missiles and attacks on strategic facilities have increasingly become part of the wider regional conflict.

Saudi Arabia’s decision to hold off on immediate retaliation gives Iraq an opportunity to investigate the incident and take action against those responsible.

But Riyadh’s warning that it reserves the right to take further measures means the possibility of a stronger response remains if attacks originating from Iraqi territory continue.

For now, the immediate priority is securing the damaged sections of the pipeline, treating those injured, assessing the extent of the damage and determining when the strategic oil route can safely resume operations.

The Saudi government has stressed that it will continue to monitor the situation closely while coordinating with the relevant authorities to protect its energy infrastructure and national security.