Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy announced on Friday the shutdown of a significant cross-country oil pipeline. This decision follows an attack on the pipeline that occurred the previous day. The ministry’s statement did not disclose the identity of the attackers and described the shutdown as a precautionary measure to ensure safety and security.
“An official source at the Ministry of Energy stated that the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions was subjected to multiple attacks on the morning of Thursday, 10 September 2026,” it read . “The pipeline was shut down as a precautionary measure. The attacks resulted in a number of injuries, and medical care was provided to those affected.
“The source said emergency and specialised technical teams responded immediately following the attacks, taking the necessary measures to secure the pipeline and assess its safety in line with approved safety procedures and emergency response plans, in coordination with the relevant authorities. Built in the 1980s, the East-West pipeline has played a key role in Saudi Arabia’s ability to continue exporting oil following the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz during Iran’s war with the US and Israel . The shutdown comes as Houthi rebels in Yemen have seized coastal territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening Saudi oil exports through a key shipping lanes. With inputs from PTI.
