Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its vital East-West pipeline after a drone attack struck the key oil conduit amid the intensifying Middle East conflict. The world’s largest crude exporter closed the line as a precaution following the aerial assault that both Baghdad and Riyadh confirmed originated from Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias maintain a strong presence. Iraq responded by dismissing a military commander who oversaw operations in Maysan province near the Iranian border.
The 1,200-kilometre pipeline crosses the Arabian Peninsula and had been moving between 4 million and 5 million barrels of oil per day in recent months. That volume represents roughly 4 to 5 percent of global supply and had allowed Saudi Arabia to bypass severe shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The attack comes as Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, tightened their control along the Red Sea. Four Yemeni government sources reported that the Houthis seized the strategic island of Perim on Friday at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
These twin developments have placed heavy pressure on energy flows around the Arabian Peninsula and pushed global oil prices back above 100 dollars per barrel. Saudi crude supplies have already fallen to their lowest levels in more than three decades, according to the International Energy Agency, partly because of earlier attacks on shipping linked to Houthi groups. Saudi officials have asked the United States for military assistance against the Houthi advance. Washington declined direct military involvement for now but offered intelligence sharing and targeting support.
Iran has reportedly urged the Houthis to escalate attacks on Saudi targets and promised additional funding, weapons and senior officers. Yemeni government forces say they plan to counterattack and retake lost ground along the Red Sea coastline. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has held off on immediate retaliation at Iraq’s request while reserving the right to protect its interests. The closure of the East-West pipeline and the loss of Perim island mark a serious escalation at a time when diplomatic efforts to end the broader war remain stalled.
