Saudi Arabia has halted operations on its strategic East-West oil pipeline after drone strikes damaged pumping stations in the Riyadh and Medina regions, further restricting the kingdom’s export options amid the US-Iran conflict.
Riyadh says the drones originated in Iraq, while Baghdad has launched an investigation after tracing them to Maysan province.
The pipeline, capable of moving up to seven million barrels of oil a day from eastern fields to the Red Sea, has become crucial for bypassing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
The shutdown comes as Houthi advances and attacks threaten Saudi energy infrastructure and Red Sea shipping, while Saudi crude production has reportedly fallen to its lowest level since 1990 and Brent oil remains above $100 a barrel.
🔥Satellite imagery shows further damage at Aramco's Jazan oil facility in southern Saudi Arabia on Sep 9. Fire damage is visible, with two storage tanks destroyed and two more damaged.
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— Soar (@SoarAtlas) September 11, 2026
