Saudi Arabia halts East-West pipeline operations after drone attacks

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended operations of the strategic East-West (Petroline) oil pipeline following a series of drone attacks on Thursday, September 11, 2026. The strikes, which targeted infrastructure in the regions of Riyadh and Medina, caused multiple injuries and raised alarms regarding the security of Middle Eastern energy supplies.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that the drones originated from Iraqi territory. While Riyadh retains the right to defend its sovereignty, the government has decided to delay retaliatory actions at the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister. Baghdad has formally condemned the attacks, initiated an investigation to identify the perpetrators, and pledged cooperation with allies to prevent future incidents.

This pipeline is critical for Saudi exports, allowing the kingdom to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, where navigation has plummeted from 125 ships per day to only seven due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Analysts warn that this disruption may trigger a significant increase in global oil prices. Authorities are currently assessing infrastructure damage to determine the full impact on energy production.