Saudi Arabia shut its East-West pipeline after drone attacks on the route.
Why it matters: The pipeline is a major backup for Saudi crude exports, especially if Strait of Hormuz shipping is disrupted. Any outage can affect oil flows, freight costs and risk pricing.
- Saudi officials said multiple drones struck the East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions on Thursday.
- Saudi energy officials said the shutdown was announced Friday as a precaution, via SPA.
- The pipeline runs about 745 miles from Abqaiq near the Gulf to Yanbu on the Red Sea.
- Iraq's government said the attack originated from its territory and ordered an investigation, AP reported.
Saudi Arabia said multiple drone attacks hit the East-West oil pipeline on Thursday morning, leading to a precautionary shutdown a day later. The state news agency said the line was struck in the Riyadh and Madinah regions and that the shutdown was a preventative step. SPA said the pipeline was shut down as a precaution.
The Foreign Ministry said the attacks were launched from Iraq, while Saudi energy officials said the East-West pipeline was stopped as a precaution. SPA said the ministry described multiple attacks on the pipeline.
The East-West Pipeline connects Abqaiq, near Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast, with Yanbu on the Red Sea and stretches about 745 miles, or 1,200 kilometers. AP said the route is especially important for exports when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted. AP reported the shutdown came a day after the attack.
Iraq's government said the attack originated from its territory and ordered an investigation, according to AP.
By the numbers
- 745 miles - Length of the East-West Pipeline from Abqaiq to Yanbu.
- 1,200 kilometers - The pipeline's length in metric units.