Saudi Arabia on Friday shut down its vital East-West oil pipeline as a precautionary measure after it was targeted in multiple attacks, the energy ministry said.
The strikes, which occurred Thursday in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, caused several injuries, according to a statement posted on X.
Saudi officials later said drones launched from Iraq had targeted the pipeline. Riyadh said it would not retaliate for now following a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi, but reserved the right to take “all necessary measures” to protect its sovereignty, security and critical infrastructure.
The East-West pipeline has a capacity of around seven million barrels per day and links oil production facilities in Saudi Arabia’s eastern province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. It allows the kingdom to export crude from both its eastern and western coasts.
The extent of the damage was not immediately clear. The Energy Ministry said specialist teams were working to secure the pipeline and assess its condition.
Following Riyadh’s accusation, Zaidi ordered an investigation and dismissed a military commander over the incident. He also expressed Baghdad’s “rejection of any aggression that threatens the Kingdom’s security and stability.”
The attacks came after Saudi Arabia exchanged strikes with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have expanded their campaign amid the US-Iran war. Iran and allied groups have previously been accused of targeting energy infrastructure in the region.
The Houthis control much of Yemen’s western coastline and several strategic islands near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a key global shipping route.
