Saudi Arabia suspended the East-West pipeline after attacks

Saudi Arabia suspended the East-West pipeline after attacks

🔸A Saudi Ministry of Energy official told the country’s state media on Friday, 20 Shahrivar, that Saudi authorities suspended operations of the East-West oil pipeline after an attack on the pipeline in areas of Riyadh and Medina.

🔸The official told the official Saudi Press Agency: “The East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina areas was targeted by several attacks on Thursday morning.”

🔸He added: “Pipeline operations were suspended as a precautionary measure, and the attacks left a number of people injured.”

🔸Hours earlier, CNN, citing two U.S. officials who were familiar with the matter, said an important oil transfer system in Saudi Arabia was targeted by a projectile on Thursday.

🔸One of these U.S. officials said initial assessments indicate that the pumping stations located near the pipeline were targeted.

🔸According to CNN, satellite images taken on Friday also appear to show extensive damage caused by a fire at one of the pumping stations. The image taken on Thursday of another pumping station shows a small fire from which columns of thick, black smoke rise into the air.

🔸It is not yet clear which side was responsible for the attacks or whether parts of the pipeline itself were also damaged. However, one U.S. official said the facilities were targeted by drone attacks that had taken off from Iraq.

🔸It is also not yet clear how long it will take to repair the damage.

🔸The attack indicates an increase in threats against Saudi Arabia’s oil resources and the country’s ability to export oil amid the continuation of the Iran war.

🔸The attacks on this pipeline were carried out only a few days after the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group took control of a strategic port city in the Red Sea in Yemen.