Saudi East-West pipeline shutdown after Iraqi drone strikes
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The gist
Saudi Arabia shut its East-West oil pipeline after drones from Iraq hit Riyadh and Medina areas.
The 4-5 million barrel-a-day line was a key Hormuz bypass, squeezing global oil supply.
Background
The 1,200-km East-West pipeline crosses the Arabian Peninsula and had become Saudi Arabia's main way to export oil without using the Strait of Hormuz, where tanker traffic nearly stopped during the U.S.-Iran war. It had been running at full capacity of about 7 million barrels a day. The shutdown came as Houthi forces in Yemen tightened their grip on the Red Sea, putting pressure on oil routes on both sides of the peninsula and pushing prices back above $100 a barrel.
How it unfolded
- Sep 10, 2026The East-West pipeline was hit on Thursday morning in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Medina regions, the Saudi energy ministry said. Multiple attacks caused several injuries, and satellite images showed black smoke near Medina.
- Sep 11, 2026Saudi Arabia said it closed the pipeline as a precaution after the attacks, which it said involved drones originating from Iraq. The IEA said Saudi crude supply fell to its lowest in more than three decades, and Houthis seized Perim island at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Sep 12, 2026Iraq dismissed a military commander who had led operations in Maysan province after investigations confirmed the drone attacks originated from Iraq, and closed the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran as a precaution.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said the pipeline was targeted by 'several drones originating from Iraq' and that it chose not to respond at this stage at the request of Iraq's prime minister, while reserving the right to take all necessary measures.
- Official
- Iraq's armed forces spokesman condemned the attack, said Iraq's territory and airspace will not be used as a launching pad for aggression, and said it appreciates Riyadh's decision to hold off on retaliation.
- Analysts
- Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said Iran-allied militia groups in Iraq have used drones against Saudi Arabia before and may have done so again as part of a broader Iranian proxy strategy.
- Caution
- Reuters reported that the dual attacks on the pipeline and Perim island could represent a dangerous escalation while diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled.
Still unverified
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the strikes or whether sections of the pipeline itself were damaged; one official said it was struck by drones originating from Iraq. It was also not clear how long repairs would take. U.S. President Trump said Iran was probably to blame, while outlets split on whether Iran or the Houthis are primarily blamed.