Riyadh closes East-West route as Middle East conflict threatens to disrupt vital energy and shipping corridors
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut a major oil pipeline after a drone attack launched from neighbouring Iraq, adding to growing concerns over the security of critical energy infrastructure in the Middle East.
The 1,200-kilometre East-West pipeline was closed as a precaution on Friday following the attack.
The route is strategically important because it allows Saudi Arabia to transport crude to its Red Sea ports without relying on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping chokepoints.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said the attack caused injuries and damage, although authorities were still assessing the full extent of the impact.
The incident has also prompted action in Iraq.
Iraq’s Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the drones originated from Maysan governorate in southern Iraq, a province bordering Iran.
Following the confirmation, the operations commander in Maysan was removed from his position and an investigation was launched into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Saudi Arabia has so far stopped short of retaliatory action.
The kingdom said the decision followed a request from Iraq’s prime minister and pledged to support Baghdad’s efforts to prevent attacks launched from its territory against neighbouring states.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms that it reserves its right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security, protect its facilities, and ensure the safety of its citizens and residents,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, has also condemned the attack.
Pipeline closure raises fresh energy concerns
The disruption comes at a particularly sensitive time for global energy markets.
The pipeline has been carrying between four and five per cent of global oil supply.
Its closure therefore adds another layer of uncertainty to energy flows already under pressure from the wider regional conflict.
The pipeline’s importance extends beyond Saudi Arabia. By providing an alternative route for crude exports, it reduces the kingdom’s dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial share of the world’s oil supply normally passes.
Any prolonged disruption could therefore intensify concerns about the reliability of regional oil supplies and put additional pressure on prices.
Shipping routes also under pressure
The latest attack comes as fighting involving Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen continues to threaten key maritime routes.
The Houthis have expanded their presence along parts of Yemen’s coastline and have claimed control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, another strategically important passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider route to the Suez Canal.
The group has said maritime traffic remains safe for all companies except those linked to Saudi Arabia.
The combination of attacks on energy infrastructure and growing threats to shipping has raised concerns about the movement of both crude oil and commercial goods through the region.
Oil prices have already responded to the worsening security situation, with crude rising above $100 a barrel for the first time since July, according to the BBC.
For Saudi Arabia, the immediate priority is to assess the damage and restore the pipeline safely.
For the wider market, however, the bigger concern is whether attacks on energy facilities and shipping routes become a sustained feature of the escalating Middle East conflict.
