Event details
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy said drones launched from Iraqi territory struck the East-West Pipeline near pumping stations at Al Mesba'ah and Al Dhekra, triggering fires and injuring several people. Riyadh shut the pipeline as a precaution and said it would hold off on retaliation after a request from Iraq's prime minister, who ordered an investigation. Responsibility has not been established, though a U.S. official said the drones originated from Iraq, where Iran-backed Shiite militias operate.
The East-West Pipeline is Saudi Arabia's main bypass route for exporting crude without transiting the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, so a shutdown removes one of the few remaining alternatives for Gulf oil to reach global markets during the ongoing tanker war.
- Local time
- 11:10 PM Riyadh time, Sep 11, 2026
- Location
- Riyadh and Madinah regions, Saudi Arabia
- Relationship
- Update