The east-west pipeline, located in the Riyadh and Medina regions, which transports approximately seven million barrels of crudes a day, was closed preventively after several drone attacks from Iraq, today the Saudi Ministry of Energy released.
© FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images
11/09/2026
by
Lusa
O ministry reported in a statement that the pipeline, the main supply route to global markets in the current context of tensions in the Strait of Ormuz, was “targeted by multiple attacks on Thursday morning”, so “it was closed as a precautionary measure”.
“ The attacks made several wounded, who received medical assistance”, added the same source.
Shortly thereafter, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the attack was carried out with several drones launched from Iraq, causing damage that “are currently being repaired”.
Saudi diplomacy condemned the attack and clarified that, after the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, “to give an opportunity to the Iraqi government to take the necessary measures to prevent attacks launched from Iraqi territory against the kingdom and neighbouring countries, Saudi Arabia chose not to respond at this stage.”.
Riyadh reaffirmed, however, that “the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security, facilities, citizens and residents is reserved.”.
For its part, the Iraqi Government condemned the attacks and praised “the stance of the kingdom and its positive response to Iraq’s efforts to contain the situation,” said Iraqi official news agency INA.
Baghdad added that Al-Zaidi “determined an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the attacks and those responsible for them, instructing that legal action be taken against anyone whose participation is proven.”.
Saudi Arabia had on previous occasions denounced attacks launched from Iraqi territory by pro-Iran militias against oil installations in Riyadh and the Eastern Region, even launching a joint offensive with the United States in response.
The eastern-west pipeline of Saudi Arabia, also called Petroline, is a strategic infrastructure that crosses the country from the oil fields of the east, in the Persian Gulf, to the port of Yanbu, in the Red Sea.
It has an extension of about 1,200 kilometres and a maximum capacity of 7 million barrels daily.
Its importance is that it allows crude exports to avoid the Ormuz Strait, which led Saudi Arabia to increase its use to divert exports to Yanbu and mitigate the impact of the blockade and restrictions on this maritime route.