Saudi Arabia halts East-West oil pipeline after drone attack from Iraq

Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said on Friday, 11 September 2026 (20 Shahrivar 1405), it had suspended the kingdom's East-West oil pipeline as a precaution after it was struck by several drones. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said in a statement that the drones were launched from Iraq and targeted areas near Riyadh and Medina, causing material damage and injuries. Riyadh said it is holding off on retaliation at Baghdad's request, to give Iraq a chance to prevent further attacks. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi dismissed the military commander who led operations in Maysan province and ordered an investigative council. The Gulf Cooperation Council's secretary general called the attack a "dangerous escalation." According to Shafaq News, the 1,200 kilometer East-West pipeline, with a capacity of about 7 million barrels a day, is Saudi Arabia's main crude export route to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.