On Friday, Saudi Arabia announced that its strategic East-West pipeline has been the target of several drone attacks from Iraq. These attacks have resulted in damage and several injuries, and the Saudi Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned these actions.
Riyadh's Response to Baghdad's Request
The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that due to the request of the Prime Minister of Iraq for an opportunity for the Iraqi government to take necessary measures, the country has decided not to respond at this stage. However, Saudi Arabia has emphasized that it reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security, and facilities.
Furthermore, the Saudi Ministry of Energy announced that as a precautionary measure, this pipeline has been closed in the Riyadh and Medina areas following the attacks on Thursday. This decision was made to ensure security and assess the safety of the pipeline, and technical and emergency teams have been dispatched to the incident site immediately.
Importance of the East-West Pipeline
This pipeline, which has become a key route for Saudi oil exports since the start of the U.S.-Iran war, has been able to transport about 5 million barrels of oil per day that were to be sent through Gulf terminals to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea. This allows Saudi Arabia to use the Strait of Hormuz as an alternative strategic route and deliver oil produced in eastern Saudi Arabia to export facilities on the Red Sea.
The Saudi Ministry of Energy has stated that more details about the developments of this incident will be announced in the near future. Currently, this situation is considered a serious warning for Saudi Arabia's national security.
