Saudi suspends key oil pipeline, only route bypassing Hormuz after attacks

Saudi Arabia has suspended its East-West oil pipeline after it came under attack. The 1,200-km pipeline, which carries up to 5 million barrels per day, provides an alternative route for oil exports, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. According to Business Recorder, the pipeline was attacked on Thursday morning in the Riyadh and Medina regions, resulting in several injuries.

The attacks on the pipeline have led to concerns about the security of oil supplies, with crude prices rising above $100 a barrel. The Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran, have been involved in a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia, including the takeover of Perim Island and the port of Dhubab, which threatens the Bab el-Mandeb shipping route, as reported by Arabian Business.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy has announced that the pipeline was shut down as a precautionary measure, with technical teams working to secure the pipeline and assess its safety. The extent of the damage and those responsible for the attacks are unclear, although The National Business reports that the Houthis have been on an expansion campaign amid the US-Iran war.

Brief written by urgent.news from Business Standard IN, Arabian Business, Business Recorder, The National Business — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.