Saudi Arabia shuts down pipeline as Houthis seize island, opening new front in the Iran war

Saudi Arabia has closed a crucial oil pipeline following a drone attack from Iraq, the BBC reports. The 1,200 km pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, was shut down as a precaution on Friday after the incident. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry stated that the attack resulted in some injuries and damage, the severity of which is still being determined.

Iraq, for its part, announced that it had reassigned a military commander and initiated an investigation after verifying that the drones launched from the Maysan region, which borders Iran. Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the operations commander in Maysan had been reassigned following the confirmation of the drone attack's origin from the region.

Saudi Arabia has not taken retaliatory action in response to the attack, with its Foreign Ministry citing Iraq’s prime minister's call for restraint. The kingdom pledged to support Iraq's efforts to prevent future attacks from Iraq against neighboring nations. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq remain tense amid the expanding Middle East conflict.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, consisting of the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, also condemned the attack. The pipeline, which accounts for between 4 and 5 percent of global oil supply, had been transporting oil since its operation began. The attack exacerbates regional tensions and contributes to rising oil prices, with crude oil prices surging above $100 a barrel for the first time since July.