Saudi Arabia suspends oil pipeline operations after drone attack

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended operations on the 1,200-kilometer East-West oil pipeline, which came under a drone attack. Riyadh said the measure was taken as a precaution.

The pipeline, which has transported 4 million to 5 million barrels of oil per day in recent months, is considered an important alternative route for Saudi oil exports amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq said the attack was carried out from Iraqi territory. Satellite images showed smoke rising from a damaged area south of Medina.

The attack came as Iran-aligned Houthi forces expanded their control in the Red Sea. According to reports, the Houthis have seized the strategically located island of Perim near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Disruptions along the routes have increased pressure on global energy supplies, pushing oil prices above $100 a barrel.

Riyadh has requested military assistance from the United States against the Houthis. Washington said it would provide intelligence and targeting support instead of direct military intervention.

The escalation has heightened concerns that Houthi advances could strengthen Iran’s influence over key maritime routes. The East-West pipeline, also known as the Petroline, provides Saudi Arabia with a route to transport crude to ports on the Red Sea, allowing it to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil chokepoint.