Saudi Arabia has suspended operations at its vital East-West oil pipeline after it was targeted in an aerial attack amid the widening conflict in the Middle East. The world’s largest crude exporter stated the shutdown was a precautionary measure following a drone strike that both Baghdad and Riyadh traced back to Iraq, where Iranian-aligned militias are active. In response to the incident, Iraqi authorities dismissed a military commander on Saturday.
The 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) conduit serves as the primary export route for Middle Eastern oil during the past six months, as the Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by warfare. Moving between 4 million and 5 million barrels daily—representing 4% to 5% of global supply—the pipeline has shielded Saudi Arabia from the severe disruptions crippling other Gulf energy producers.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the strike, but satellite imagery captured black smoke rising from the pipeline south of Medina. The Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed that injuries occurred and damage is being assessed, though it did not specify the impact on export volumes. US President Donald Trump, who was visiting Ireland for a golf event at one of his resorts, suggested Iran was likely behind the attack.
Separately, the Saudi Civil Defence reported that a projectile fired by Houthi forces injured two individuals and damaged several structures, including a mosque, in the Jazan region. Meanwhile, oil prices have risen sharply over the past week, and US diesel retail costs have exceeded a record $6 per gallon as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, with Houthi forces advancing along the Red Sea.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contacted President Trump on Thursday requesting direct US military assistance against the Houthis, according to three sources cited by Reuters. The prince was informed that Washington would not intervene directly at this time but would provide intelligence support. Trump confirmed the conversation on Saturday and noted that the Houthis had also contacted his administration, asking the US to avoid direct involvement.
Compounding the strategic pressure, four Yemeni government sources told Reuters that Houthi fighters seized the island of Perim on Friday. The island sits in the middle of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint known as the “Gate of Tears” at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
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