Saudi Arabia Shuts Key Oil Pipeline After Drone Attack Launched From Iraq

Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut its vital East‑West oil pipeline after a drone strike launched from the Iraqi province of Maysan, signaling a sharp escalation in a region already fraught with conflict.

The Pipeline and Its Strategic Importance

Stretching 1,200km (745 miles), the pipeline transports 4‑5% of global crude oil and allows Saudi producers to skirt the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for energy trade.

Reactions and Regional Impact

Iraq’s government admitted the drone attack stemmed from its own territory and is investigating the incident. The operations commander in Maysan has been removed from his post, and Iraq has called for tighter security to prevent attacks against neighbouring states.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry declined to retaliate, saying it would support Iraq’s effort to curb cross‑border violence but reserves the right to take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and citizens. A statement from the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attack as a serious escalation threatening Saudi security and international law.

Concurrently, Houthi militants have seized a large portion of Yemen’s coastline, including the Bab al‑Mandab Strait. This advance has tightened pressure on global shipping routes, contributing to a surge in crude oil prices to over $100 a barrel for the first time since July.

The shutdown underscores the fragility of the Middle East’s energy infrastructure and reveals how regional power plays can ripple into worldwide markets.