Saudi Arabia has temporarily closed its East-West oil pipeline after a drone attack launched from Iraq caused damage and injuries, according to Saudi and Iraqi authorities.
Riyadh said it shut the 1,200km pipeline as a precaution while the extent of the damage is assessed. Satellite images showed scorched ground and smoke near locations along the route that were hit, the report said.
The pipeline provides Saudi Arabia with a route that avoids the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters, citing ship-tracking companies and analysts, reported that it had been carrying the equivalent of 4% to 5% of global oil supply.
Iraq removes regional commander
Iraq said the attack was launched from Maysan governorate, a province bordering Iran. The office of Iraq’s prime minister said the province’s operations commander had been dismissed following confirmation of the launch location.
Baghdad has also opened investigations into the incident. Saudi Arabia said it would not retaliate for now after a call from Iraq’s prime minister, and said it would support Iraqi government efforts to prevent attacks on neighbouring countries from Iraqi territory.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said the kingdom retained the right to take measures it considered necessary to protect its sovereignty, security, facilities and residents. The Gulf Co-operation Council condemned the attack, calling it an unacceptable threat to Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and vital installations.
Pressure on regional oil routes
The pipeline closure comes as Houthi rebels in Yemen have made rapid advances along much of the country’s coastline, according to sources cited in the report. The group has said it controls the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which leads to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, while stating that navigation is safe for all companies except Saudi vessels.
Developments on both sides of the Arabian Peninsula have added pressure to oil shipping routes. Crude prices rose above $100 a barrel for the first time since July, the report said.
Source: BBC News
