Saudi oil pipeline could remain shut for weeks after drone attack

A crucial Saudi oil pipeline could remain largely out of service for three to five weeks after a drone attack last week, according to the Associated Press, citing two regional officials briefed on the damage.

Satellite images provided by Vantor show the aftermath of the attack on the East-West Pipeline, which carries Saudi crude from oil fields and Gulf ports to the kingdom’s Red Sea coast.

The 1,200-kilometer pipeline was shut down on Thursday after Saudi Arabia blamed the attack on drones launched by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

One official said parts of the pipeline could resume operating while repairs continue. The system has a total capacity of up to 7 million barrels of oil per day.

The disruption comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to maintain oil exports while avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted by Iranian attacks.

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