Saudi Arabia's east-west oil pipeline, which links the kingdom's eastern oil fields to a Red Sea port, was shut down after multiple drone strikes. The Iraqi government has since confirmed the unmanned aerial vehicles were launched from Maysan province in the country's south, announcing an investigation into the incident and the dismissal of the local military commander. Saudi authorities have yet to disclose a timeline for restarting the pipeline or the precise impact on its crude export volumes.
Pipeline hit by multiple drones
Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry reported that the east-west pipeline was attacked by several drones in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, resulting in injuries and damage to infrastructure. Saudi Aramco subsequently enacted precautionary measures, halting pipeline operations. Satellite monitoring data revealed fires near at least two pumping stations along the route following the assault, with one facility sustaining severe damage. However, neither the Saudi government nor Saudi Aramco has released details on the damaged equipment, repair progress, or potential duration of the shutdown. The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated the attacking drones originated from the direction of Iraq. Riyadh indicated it would delay any retaliatory action, allowing time for the Iraqi government to investigate and deal with those involved. Several regional bodies and nations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, have publicly condemned the attack.
Iraq probes drone launch in Maysan province
On September 12, the Iraqi government announced that a preliminary investigation determined the drones that struck the Saudi pipeline were launched from Maysan province, which borders Iran. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an inquiry into the local operational command structure and dismissed the military commander of Maysan province. Baghdad has not identified any specific group responsible for the assault. US President Donald Trump claimed Iran was "likely" behind the attack, but so far, neither Iraqi nor Saudi investigations have substantiated this assertion, and no organization has claimed responsibility for the pipeline strike.
Red Sea export route faces new supply risks
The east-west pipeline, also known as Petroline, spans approximately 1,200 kilometers, transporting crude from the Abqaiq region in eastern Saudi Arabia to the Yanbu port on the Red Sea. It serves as the kingdom's primary overland export route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US Energy Information Administration, the pipeline has a designed capacity of around 5 million barrels per day. As shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces disruptions from regional conflict, the importance of Saudi exports via the east-west pipeline and Yanbu port has escalated. Data from the International Energy Agency shows that Saudi oil shipments from Yanbu have more than doubled since the conflict began. This attack has temporarily severed Saudi Arabia's main alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi rebels have recently advanced along the Red Sea coast, expanding their control around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, adding further security risks to Saudi crude shipments through the Red Sea to European and other markets. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed whether it would tap into inventories, adjust flows through other pipelines, or cut exports during the outage. Existing public information is also insufficient to determine whether the attack has created an actual supply shortfall.