Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh
Riyadh, Sep 12: Saudi Arabia has shut down its strategic East-West Pipeline as a precautionary measure after it came under multiple attacks on Thursday, leaving several people injured, the Ministry of Energy said.
An official source at the ministry said the pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions was targeted in multiple attacks on the morning of September 10, 2026.
“The pipeline was shut down as a precautionary measure. The attacks resulted in a number of injuries, and medical care was provided to those affected,” the ministry said in a statement shared on X.
Emergency and specialised technical teams responded immediately after the attacks and took measures to secure the pipeline and assess its safety in accordance with approved safety procedures and emergency response plans, in coordination with relevant authorities.
“Any further developments will be announced in due course,” the ministry said.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in the East-West Pipeline, which transports crude oil from the kingdom’s eastern oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, allowing exports to bypass the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Friday that a drone attack on the East-West Pipeline had been launched from Iraq, causing injuries and damage, Xinhua news agency reported.
The ministry condemned the attack and said Saudi Arabia had refrained from retaliating at this stage at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister.
The decision was aimed at giving the Iraqi government an opportunity to take the necessary measures to prevent attacks launched from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia, the ministry said.
Saudi Arabia, however, reserved the right to take “all appropriate action” to protect its sovereignty, security, facilities and citizens.
Iraq welcomed Riyadh’s decision to hold off on retaliation and condemned any attack threatening Saudi Arabia’s security. The Iraqi armed forces said an investigation had been ordered to identify those responsible for the attack.
Saudi Arabia’s civilian and energy infrastructure has come under repeated Houthi fire in recent times. The Houthis have said their attacks are in response to Saudi airstrikes on areas under their control in north-western Yemen.