Saudi Arabia Shuts Key Oil Pipeline After Drone Attacks

In September 2026, Saudi Arabia shut down its East-West oil pipeline, which carries oil across the country to the Red Sea and bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The closure followed drone attacks, and Saudi officials described it as a precautionary measure. Injuries were reported, and satellite imagery showed smoke near the pipeline. Saudi Arabia condemned the drone attack, which it said was launched from Iraq; some reports also linked the offensive to the Houthis. The pipeline is a key route for exporting oil without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices rose to near $105 after the shutdown.