Fearing an attack, Saudi Arabia closes a main oil pipeline

Saudi Arabian authorities have taken steps to temporarily shut down one of their main oil export pipelines due to drone attacks from Iraq. In the face of the severe military situation in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia had significantly increased the use of the "East-West" pipeline, which runs from the Abqaiq region to the Yanbu port on the Red Sea, to circumvent disruptions caused by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Several drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory targeting this oil pipeline, which runs through the Riyadh and Medina regions, have been strongly condemned by both the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy. Authorities confirm that operations on the pipeline were suspended as a precautionary measure due to the attack, and that several people were injured and property damage occurred in the incident. Images obtained from Copernicus Sentinel satellites show black smoke rising along the pipeline near the Medina area.

The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Saidi has confirmed that the attack originated from Iraq's southern Maysan province, and the Prime Minister immediately took action to remove the military commander of the relevant province from his post. The Iraqi government, stating that it condemns this attack on Saudi Arabia using its territory, also mentioned that a full investigation into the matter has been launched.

Considering the special request of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Saudi Arabia has decided to refrain from a military response at this moment and has agreed to support the Iraqi government's efforts to prevent attacks originating from Iraqi territory. However, the Riyadh administration emphasizes that it retains the full right to take any necessary measures to protect its country's security and property. Meanwhile, Bahrain, Jordan, the State of Qatar, and the Gulf Cooperation Council have also condemned this attack as a serious threat to regional security.

In the face of this unstable situation in the region, the price of a barrel of crude oil on the world market has exceeded the $100 mark, and diesel prices in America have also risen significantly. Meanwhile, Houthi rebels have imposed naval blockades in the Red Sea against Saudi Arabia, which supports the Yemeni government, and by consolidating control over strategic islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Houthi organization has declared that passage through it is safe for ships of all countries except Saudi Arabia.