Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy announced the precautionary shutdown of its East-West oil pipeline after multiple attacks occurred on Thursday. These attacks, targeting sections of the pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, resulted in several injuries. Emergency and specialized technical teams are currently assessing the damage and securing the pipeline, which has a full pumping capacity of approximately seven million barrels per day.
The East-West pipeline is a crucial piece of infrastructure, linking oil production facilities in the Eastern Province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu on the west coast. Its strategic importance has grown significantly, especially since the start of the US-Iran war, as it provides an alternative export route, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, about five million barrels of oil per day are rerouted through this system.
While responsibility for the attacks remains unclear, US officials indicate that pump stations along the pipeline were struck by projectiles, with some reports suggesting drone origins from Iraq. Satellite imagery from September 10, 2026, shows smoke plumes from fires along the pipeline, and subsequent images confirm extensive fire damage at pumping stations. The attacks come amidst an expansion campaign by Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have taken control of Yemen's western coast and the Bab Al Mandeb strait, intensifying threats to Saudi Arabia's oil exports. Recent Houthi strikes have reportedly contributed to Saudi crude production falling to 6.24 million barrels per day in August, the lowest since 1990, and have impacted global oil prices, with ICE Brent reaching $105 per barrel and Middle Eastern grades like Murban and Oman at $120 per barrel. The closure of the pipeline jeopardizes an estimated 3-4 million barrels per day of Saudi crude exports.
