Strikes against the kingdom’s principal alternative to Hormuz expose the vulnerability of global energy routes.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia temporarily shut down its East–West oil pipeline after a series of attacks struck infrastructure in the Riyadh and Medina regions. The incidents caused fires and left several people injured, according to the Saudi Energy Ministry, while emergency teams and technical specialists assessed the damage.
The attacks were reportedly conducted with drones launched from Iraq. Saudi authorities have not completed their attribution publicly, although regional reports have linked the operation to Iran-aligned Iraqi militias acting in coordination with Yemen’s Houthi movement. Establishing responsibility will be central to determining whether Riyadh responds militarily or continues prioritizing containment.
Also known as Petroline, the approximately 1,200-kilometre pipeline carries crude from Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil-producing region to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Its normal throughput is estimated at between four million and five million barrels per day, equivalent to roughly 4%–5% of global oil consumption.
The system was built during the Iran–Iraq War to reduce Saudi dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. Its strategic value has increased significantly during the current regional conflict, as restrictions and military threats around Hormuz have disrupted the maritime passage normally used for a large share of Gulf energy exports.
The shutdown occurred as Houthi forces expanded their position along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and captured Mayun Island and the nearby town of Dhubab. These locations overlook the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the maritime gateway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Control or disruption of the passage could threaten shipping moving toward the Suez Canal.
Saudi Arabia consequently faces pressure at both ends of its alternative export system. The East–West pipeline can bypass Hormuz, but oil reaching Yanbu must still move through a Red Sea corridor increasingly exposed to Houthi missiles, drones and territorial advances. The simultaneous vulnerability of the pipeline and Bab el-Mandeb limits Riyadh’s ability to reroute exports safely.
Oil prices moved above $100 per barrel during the week as markets evaluated the possibility of prolonged supply interruptions. Even if Saudi Arabia restores the pipeline quickly, repeated strikes could increase insurance, security and transportation costs across global energy markets.
The attack demonstrates that energy security depends on more than production capacity. Pipelines, pumping stations, ports and maritime chokepoints form an interconnected system in which damage to a single corridor can transmit economic pressure far beyond the battlefield.
Control of energy routes can become as decisive as control of the energy itself.