{
  "id": 6833760,
  "title": "US-Iran war news LIVE: Drones launched from Iraq hit oil pipeline, says Saudi Arabia as tensions in Middle East soar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/us-iran-war-news-live-drones-launched-from-iraq-hit-oil-pipeline-says",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T01:15:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/us-iran-war-news-live-latest-updates-saudi-arabia-houthis-donald-trump-pezeshkian-brent-crude-oil-prices-middle-east-11789173487809.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saudi Arabia reported on Friday that drones launched from Iraq struck an East-West oil pipeline, causing it to shut down. The pipeline connects Abqaiq, near the Gulf, to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, serving as a way for Saudi Arabia to avoid Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Saudi government condemned the attack, stating that several drones from Iraq caused injuries and damage in the Riyadh and Medina regions. The foreign ministry explained that, at the Iraqi prime minister's request, Riyadh has chosen not to respond at this time and is supporting the Iraqi government's efforts to prevent attacks against the kingdom and neighboring countries from Iraq. Meanwhile, talks between Israel and Lebanon, originally scheduled for next week in Rome, have been postponed and will now take place in October due to Jewish holidays, a Paris conference, and UN General Assembly preparations. Additionally, Michael Duffey, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, said Congress must act on the US administration's $1.5 trillion funding request to replenish stockpiles of crucial air defense interceptors and deep-strike weapons heavily used in the Iran war.",
  "summary": "Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted oil flows through its East-West pipeline after drones launched from Iraq hit the infrastructure. According to Saudi Arabia, the pipeline was closed as a precaution. The incident has added to growing tensions in the Middle East.\n\nThe region has seen increased tensions, with Iran-backed Houthi forces expanding their control along Yemen's Red Sea coast. The Houthis have seized control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline, strengthening their position around the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait.\n\nCommercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to single-digit levels, according to shipping data. If the Houthis gain control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, their backer Iran could gain a critical advantage, reducing supplies through a second major corridor and further raising oil prices, as reported by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.",
  "key_points": [
    "Drones from Iraq hit Saudi oil pipeline, causing shutdown",
    "Saudi condemns attack, protects Riyadh and Medina regions",
    "Israel-Lebanon talks postponed to October due to holidays"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The drone attacks from Iraq on Saudi Arabia's oil pipeline signal a widening conflict in the Middle East, where existing tensions are escalating and drawing in more countries.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Saudi Gazette",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia says drones from Iraq targeted East-West Pipeline, holds off response",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/saudi-arabia-says-drones-from-iraq-targeted-east-west-pipeline-holds",
        "published": "2026-09-11T22:28:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia closes oil pipeline after drone attack launched from Iraq",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/saudi-arabia-closes-oil-pipeline-after-drone-attack-launched-from-iraq",
        "published": "2026-09-11T23:53:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}