Saudis shut down oil pipeline as Houthis tighten grip on Red Sea shipping
ADEN/DUBAI — Saudi Arabia has shut down its East-West pipeline after the vital oil conduit came under aerial attack in the widening Middle East war, threatening to send energy prices even higher. The world’s largest crude oil exporter temporarily closed the pipeline after a drone attack that both Baghdad and Riyadh said had originated in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias operate. Iraq dismissed…
Saudi Arabia has abruptly halted its East-West pipeline following an aerial assault that threatens to drive up energy costs. The world's leading oil producer temporarily shut down the vital 1,200-kilometer conduit after a drone attack, believed to have originated in Iraq where Iranian-backed groups operate. Both Baghdad and Riyadh accused the attack of coming from Iraq.
In retaliation, Iraq sacked a military commander on Saturday. The pipeline, which has been transporting 4 million to 5 million barrels per day, or 4% to 5% of global supply, was closed as a precaution. The pipeline bypasses a shipping bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz, where tanker traffic has been grinding to a halt due to the six-month conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
It remains uncertain who was responsible for the strikes, as satellite images revealed smoke from an area of the pipeline south of Med.
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- Saudis shut down oil pipeline as Houthis tighten grip on Red Sea shipping thejakartapost.com
- Saudis shut down oil pipeline as Houthis tighten grip on Red Sea shipping koreatimes.co.kr
