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Saudi Arabia says East-West pipeline was attacked by drones launched from Iraq

Saudi Foreign Ministry says that the East-West oil pipeline was attacked by drones launched from Iraq.

Saudi Arabia has chosen not to retaliate at this stage, the ministry’s statement said, “to allow the Iraqi authorities the opportunity to take measures to prevent attacks launched from its territory against the Kingdom and neighboring countries.”

Saudi Arabia suspends crucial East-West pipeline bypassing Hormuz following attacks

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Energy says it is suspending its only route to export oil that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz after “multiple targeting incidents”.

In a post on X, the ministry said it was enforcing a “precautionary suspension” of the East-West pipeline.

Satellite imagery suggests that the pipeline was targeted by the Houthis during their lightning offensive to seize complete control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline.

Turkish, Saudi foreign ministers discuss regional tensions as pipeline attacks force shutdown

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke by phone with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on Friday, discussing the latest regional developments and the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, according to Turkish diplomatic sources who spoke with Anadolu Agency.

The call came after Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry shut down the kingdom’s East-West Pipeline as a “precautionary measure,” following multiple attacks in the Riyadh and Madinah regions that left several people injured. The pipeline system was struck by projectiles on Thursday, triggering fires at pumping stations, CNN reported, citing two US officials familiar with the matter.

The East-West pipeline carries crude from Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil-producing region to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, allowing exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar condemns attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the attack on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, Riyadh’s only route for exporting oil that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that targeting civilian and economic facilities constitutes a condemnable act and a flagrant violation of international law, and a dangerous escalation that undermines the security and stability of the region,” the ministry said in a statement posted on X.

“In this context, it commends the responsible approach adopted by the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in supporting the Iraqi government’s efforts to prevent the use of its territories to aggress against the Kingdom and neighboring countries.”

Riyadh says it will not respond to the attacks following a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

Separately, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Iraq to investigate attack on Saudi’s East-West pipeline: Iraqi army

The Iraqi armed forces say that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an ⁠investigation into ⁠the attack on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline.

“The Iraqi government appreciates the Kingdom’s stance and its response to the efforts made by Iraq to contain the situation,” the Iraqi army’s spokesperson said in a statement.

The prime minister “directed that an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the attacks and the parties behind them, and that legal measures be taken against anyone proven to be involved,” according to the statement published by the state-run Iraq News Agency.

Saudi pipeline disruption puts further pressure on oil markets

Ben Cahill, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, says any prolonged shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline would be a major blow to oil exports and add further pressure to already tight global energy markets.

“This is a real blow,” Cahill said, saying the pipeline is “the principal bypass option to avoid the Strait of Hormuz”.

He said some oil is still moving through Hormuz, although the waterway is “not operating at anywhere near capacity”, while Saudi Arabia is also using oil held in storage in the region and elsewhere to continue supplying customers.

But Cahill said access to the Red Sea has been “absolutely critical”, with the East-West pipeline providing Saudi Arabia with its most important alternative export route.

He said the latest disruption comes as many of the safeguards that helped stabilise oil markets in recent months have weakened.

“The key buffers that got us through the last six months have basically been worn away,” Cahill said.

He added that “there’s less slack in the system, everything is running hot”, with refined product markets, particularly diesel, even tighter than headline crude prices suggest.

If attacks continue and there is “any real threat that the Red Sea is going to be cut off for some time”, Cahill said it would mean further upward pressure on prices.

Jordan condemns drone attack on Saudi East-West pipeline

Jordan has condemned the drone attack targeting Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, saying the drones came from Iraqi territory.

In a statement, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry described the attack as a “blatant violation” of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to the kingdom’s security and stability, as well as a “flagrant breach of international law and the UN Charter”.

The ministry said Jordan stands in “absolute solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and fully supports any measures it takes to protect its sovereignty, security, infrastructure, citizens and residents.

Iraq determines drone launched from country’s Maysan province, dismisses military commander

Baghdad reported that a drone launched from the country’s Maysan province targeted Saudi Arabia, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said in a statement. The operations commander from the Maysan province has been dismissed from his post after findings confirmed the attacks originated from a location under his watch.

The prime minister’s office ordered the formation of an investigative council to investigate the Maysan Operations Command, the statement said.

GCC Secretary General calls on Iraq to prevent attacks from its territory

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, called on Baghdad to “intensify its efforts and take the necessary, decisive measures to prevent its territory from being used as a launch pad for such attacks”, after the East-West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia was attacked by drones launched from Iraq.

The Secretary General, a Kuwaiti national, condemned the attack, saying it was a ” dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat”. He also reaffirmed the GCC’s “steadfast solidarity” and “full support” for any measures Riyadh takes to “protect its security, stability, territorial integrity, facilities, citizens, and residents”.

Saudi Arabia has chosen not to retaliate at this stage, Riyadh’s Foreign Ministry said in statement.

Iraqi, Saudi foreign ministers hold telephone call

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud spoke on the phone in the early hours of Saturday morning, after a drone was launched from Iraqi territory targeting the East-West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia.

A read-out from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said that the two exchanged views “on the latest developments in the region and developments of common interest”.

Baghdad said that the two sides “stressed the importance of continued communication, coordination and consultation between the two countries, which contributes to supporting security and stability in the region and enhancing joint cooperation”.