Saudi Arabia closes East-West oil pipeline following drone attack

The kingdom’s 1,200‑km (746‑mile) East‑West oil pipeline was shut down after a swarm of drones struck the line over Riyadh and Medina on Friday. Saudi officials say the strike, allegedly launched from the Iraqi province of Maysan, forced the Ministry of Energy to halt the 4‑to‑5 million barrels‑per‑day flow that had been a crucial bypass of the blocked Strait of Hormuz.

The attack was first reported by the Al Jazeera outlet, which confirmed that the drones had hit the pipeline’s infrastructure in the Riyadh and Medina sectors, causing plumes of smoke and damaging operating equipment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the strike “caused injuries and damage” and that specialised teams were securing the line and assessing safety. No group has claimed responsibility, and the Iraqi government has opened an investigation, stating it will take “legal action against anyone proven to be involved.”

Media additions

Security analyst I believe this [attack] was most likely an order from Tehran. From Tehran’s point of view, this is them supporting Yemen’s Houthi war objective, which is for Saudi Arabia to withdraw from Yemen. Wolfgang Pusztai, security policy and defence analyst, via Al Jazeera. He argues the pressure on Saudi territory could push the kingdom to pull back from Yemen, further tightening the Red Sea corridor.

In the same week, the BBC reported that Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed to have launched ballistic missiles and drones at Riyadh, targeting “sensitive sites,” and at Aramco facilities in Yanbu. Houthi spokesman Yahya al-Sarea stated: A large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones Yahya al-Sarea, Houthi military spokesman, via BBC. Saudi air defences intercepted a missile aimed at Riyadh and destroyed it, the coalition said.

Flames and thick black smoke were also seen near the King Khalid International Airport and at an Aramco fuel depot, captured in satellite imagery and social‑media videos. The Türkiye Today noted that NASA’s FIRMS system recorded higher‑intensity thermal hits at the Riyadh refinery, though Aramco had not yet issued a comment. Similar reports emerged from the CNBC outlet, which highlighted a large plume of black smoke rising from the airport’s fuel storage area.

These events unfold against a backdrop of a wider regional crisis. The US‑Israel war on Iran, launched in late February, has already closed the Strait of Hormuz and pressured Saudi Arabia to rely on the East‑West pipeline to keep crude flowing to the Red Sea. The resulting maritime blockade of Yemen’s coast by the Houthis has further threatened the Bab al‑Mandeb strait, a vital chokepoint for global shipping.

Saudi officials have said the pipeline’s closure is a precautionary measure while they “secure the pipeline and assess its safety.” The shutdown could force the kingdom to reroute crude through the Suez Canal or the Sumed pipeline, a 320‑km line that carries oil from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. The Sumed route, however, is less efficient and could add transit time and cost, potentially tightening an already volatile market.

Meanwhile, the Houthis have intensified their campaign, claiming missile strikes on Aramco’s Jazan refinery and Yanbu. Saudi air defences reportedly intercepted at least two ballistic missiles in the early hours of Saturday, a claim echoed by the coalition’s spokesman.

In the days following the pipeline closure, Saudi Arabia has not yet announced a formal retaliation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would hold off on a response “at this stage” at the request of the Iraqi prime minister, though it reserved the right to “take all measures necessary” to protect its interests. Analysts such as Al Jazeera suggest that a multilateral response involving Turkey and Pakistan, under their recent defence pact, could still materialise.

For global markets, the pipeline’s shutdown is a “real blow,” according to senior fellow Ben Cahill, who notes that the kingdom’s principal bypass route to avoid the Strait of Hormuz has been “worn away.” The United Nations Security Council has condemned the Houthi attacks, while the US and Israel have intensified their campaign against Iran, further complicating the regional security calculus.

What to Watch Next

• Saudi Arabia’s decision on whether to reinstate the East‑West pipeline once repairs are complete.
• Any coordinated retaliation by Saudi, Turkey or Pakistan against Houthi or Iranian‑backed actors.
• Potential shifts in oil export routes, including increased use of the Suez Canal or Sumed pipeline.
• Further missile and drone strikes by the Houthis or Iran‑backed militias in the Gulf region.

The situation remains fluid. As the kingdom and its allies grapple with a multi‑front conflict that now includes the US‑Israel‑Iran war, the fate of the East‑West pipeline will be a barometer of Saudi resilience and the broader stability of the Red Sea shipping lanes.