Riyadh closes East-West pipeline as Iraq removes a military commander and opens investigations into the strike by Iran-backed militias.
Published
Saudi Arabia has shut down the East-West oil pipeline after drones were launched from Iraqi territory, the latest disruption to Middle Eastern energy supplies. The attack, which Riyadh has attributed to local Iran-backed militias, comes amid intensifying Houthi strikes from Yemen that have further strained regional oil flows.
Iraq moved quickly to contain diplomatic fallout, removing a military commander and opening investigations into the attack, which originated from an area bordering Iran. The speed of Baghdad's response underscores the pressure on Iraq to demonstrate it can control armed groups operating within its borders.
The East-West pipeline is strategically critical because it allows Saudi oil to reach export terminals without transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint increasingly threatened by Iranian threats. Its closure threatens to push oil prices higher at a time when global energy markets are already tense.
The pipeline shutdown follows a week of Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, which the Iran-backed rebels have escalated in recent days. Analysts warn the dual pressure from attacks originating in both Iraq and Yemen could force Riyadh to reconsider its regional posture.
Sources: 1.