Saudi Arabia has taken the significant step of shutting down its East-West oil pipeline after it was targeted by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iraq. The attack occurred on September 10, and the Saudi Energy Ministry announced the closure as a precautionary measure to prevent further incidents.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed that several UAVs were involved in the attack, which resulted in material damage and injuries. In a statement, the ministry noted, "We have chosen not to respond at this stage to support the Iraqi government's efforts, as Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has requested to give them a chance to implement necessary measures to prevent attacks from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries."

In response to the incident, the Iraqi government condemned the attacks and announced an urgent investigation into those responsible. They emphasized that they would not allow their territory or airspace to be used for attacks against Saudi Arabia. Following the confirmation of the attack's origin, the commander in charge of the southern Maysan province in Iraq was dismissed.

While the perpetrators of the attack were not explicitly named, it is noted that Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq have previously used UAVs to target Saudi Arabia. Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, suggested that these groups may have launched the attack as part of Iran's strategy to use proxy forces to pressure Arab nations to end U.S. military presence in the region.

A U.S. official informed CNN that the pumping stations along the East-West pipeline were hit, with satellite images showing significant damage from a fire at one of the stations. The images also revealed a smaller fire at another pumping station the day before the attack.

The timeline for repairing the pipeline remains uncertain. U.S. officials and experts believe that repairing the pumping stations may be less challenging than addressing the severe damage to the pipeline itself. The East-West pipeline is a critical route for Saudi Arabia, directing oil to the Yanbu port on the Red Sea, serving as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which has faced Iranian blockades. In recent months, Saudi Arabia has transported 4-5 million barrels of crude oil daily through this pipeline, accounting for approximately 4-5% of global supply.

The attack on the East-West pipeline underscores the increasing threats to Saudi Arabia's oil export capabilities amid ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts. This incident coincides with the Houthi forces, aligned with Iran in Yemen, capturing the strategic Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, thereby tightening their control over a region critical to global energy markets.