Saudi Arabia has condemned an attack on its East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, saying several drones launched from Iraq targeted the facility and caused injuries and damage.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Kingdom expressed its strongest condemnation of the incident. According to the ministry, the attack resulted in injuries and some damage to the pipeline, with recovery and repair efforts underway.
The incident follows multiple drone attacks reported on September 10. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy said the East-West Pipeline was temporarily shut down as a precaution following the attacks. Specialized teams were deployed to secure the facility, assess the damage and carry out the necessary response measures.
The East-West Pipeline, also known as Petroline, is a major component of Saudi Arabia’s oil transportation infrastructure. It carries crude oil from the Kingdom’s oil-producing areas in the east to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The route provides Saudi Arabia with an alternative means of transporting crude oil to the Red Sea for export.
Saudi authorities said the drones involved in the latest incident were launched from Iraqi territory. Iraq subsequently condemned the attack and said its territory and airspace should not be used to carry out attacks against other countries.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the incident. Iraqi authorities said the investigation found that the drones had been launched from an area in Maysan province in southern Iraq. The Iraqi government also dismissed the military commander responsible for operations in the province and established an investigative council to examine the circumstances surrounding the attacks.
Saudi Arabia said it would not take military action at this stage. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the decision followed a request from the Iraqi prime minister, allowing Iraqi authorities an opportunity to take measures to prevent attacks originating from Iraqi territory.
At the same time, Riyadh said it reserves the right to take measures it considers necessary to protect its sovereignty, security, infrastructure, citizens and residents. Saudi Arabia also said it would support efforts by the Iraqi government to address the issue.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also condemned the attack. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the incident posed a threat to Saudi Arabia’s security and vital installations and called on Iraq to take measures to prevent its territory from being used to launch attacks.
The East-West Pipeline is strategically important to Saudi Arabia because it provides a route for transporting crude oil that does not depend entirely on maritime routes through the Persian Gulf. Any disruption to the pipeline can therefore have implications for the Kingdom’s oil transportation infrastructure.
Saudi authorities have continued assessment and recovery work at the affected locations. Further details regarding the extent of the damage and the pipeline’s full return to normal operations are expected as the assessment progresses.
