As the Middle East crisis intensifies, Saudi Arabia has shut down a vital oil pipeline after drones fired from Iraq targeted it. After acknowledging that one of its provinces bordering Iran was the source of the drone attack on its neighbor’s East-West pipeline, Iraq announced it had sacked a military officer and opened an investigation. Saudi Arabia has already accused an Iraqi militia supported by Iran of attacking its oil infrastructure.
The greatest exporter of crude oil in the world, Saudi Arabia, has been able to avoid the Strait of Hormuz thanks to the 1,200 km (745 mile) pipeline. As the US-Iran war enters its seventh month, the incident coincides with a significant advance by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, increasing pressure on international oil transportation lanes. A day after the Houthis took over the whole Red Sea coast, Yemen’s government troops, supported by Saudi Arabia, reported on Friday that they had attacked Houthi fighters in the vital coastal city of Mokha.
As satellite photos of the area showed smoke and charred ground, Riyadh announced on Friday that it had closed the pipeline as a precaution. According to the foreign ministry, the incident caused some damage and injuries, which were still being evaluated. According to news agency Reuters, which cited ship tracking firms and analysts, the Saudi pipeline has been transporting 4% to 5% of the world’s oil supply.
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