Saudi oil pipeline hit in strikes will be mostly out of service for several weeks for repair
A major Saudi Arabian oil pipeline, the East-West Pipeline, will remain largely out of service for several weeks following a drone attack. The facility is critical for Saudi oil exports, allowing the kingdom to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters
Disruptions to key energy infrastructure in the Middle East can have significant impacts on global oil supply chains and market prices.
A crucial Saudi oil pipeline that was struck in an attack last week will mostly be out of service for weeks as the damage is repaired, two regional officials told The Associated Press.
The East-West Pipeline, which runs across the kingdom, is key to Saudi Arabia's strategy of shifting its oil exports to the Red Sea to avoid the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian attacks have stifled shipping. The 1,200-kilometre pipeline can carry up to 7 million barrels of oil a day. An attack that Saudi Arabia blamed on drones from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq forced the shutdown of the pipeline on Thursday (September 10, 2026).
The officials, who have been briefed on the matter, said repairing the damage could take three to five weeks, including at a major pumping facility. One of the officials said the line may work partially while teams carry out the repairs.
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