Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its strategic East-West oil pipeline after multiple drone attacks struck the facility, marking a major escalation in the widening Middle East conflict and raising fresh concerns over global energy supplies. The Saudi Energy Ministry said the pipeline was attacked in the Riyadh and Madinah regions. It was closed as a precaution while emergency and technical teams assessed the infrastructure.
The 1,200-kilometre pipeline, also known as Petroline, runs across Saudi Arabia from the oil-producing east to the key port of Yanbu on the Red Sea. Its strategic importance has increased sharply since the war disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The route provides Riyadh with an alternative pathway to move crude to global markets without relying entirely on the Gulf waterway. The pipeline had been carrying around 4–5 million barrels of oil per day.
Saudi Arabia said the latest drones were launched from Iraq, where several Iran-aligned armed groups operate. Baghdad has opened an investigation and taken action against a senior military commander following the attacks. Riyadh has so far chosen not to retaliate, following a request from the Iraqi prime minister, but warned that it reserves the right to take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and critical infrastructure.
The pipeline shutdown comes just days after Iran-backed Houthi forces launched attacks on Saudi cities including Jazan, Abha, Najran and Khamis Mushait. Those strikes damaged oil and energy facilities and injured 73 people, demonstrating how the conflict is increasingly threatening the Kingdom’s energy infrastructure.
The latest attack therefore carries significance far beyond Saudi Arabia. With the Strait of Hormuz already severely disrupted and alternative Red Sea routes facing Houthi threats, another major oil-export route is now under pressure. Any prolonged shutdown could tighten global crude supplies further, push prices higher and increase energy-security risks for major importers, including India.
