Saudi Arabia's East-West Oil Pipeline Attacked but Remains Operational

Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline has been attacked, according to reports from the Financial Times. The pipeline, which carries 7 million barrels per day of crude oil from the eastern Gulf region to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, was struck by a drone. Damage is being assessed, but operations have not been disrupted.

Oil loadings at the Yanbu terminal are operating normally as of Wednesday. The pipeline remains open despite the strike. No immediate impact on oil flows has been reported.

The attack occurred on the vital infrastructure linking Saudi Arabia's oil production centers to export facilities.

Bloomberg reported that the pipeline's functionality is intact following the incident. The Financial Times provided details on the drone strike, noting that assessments are ongoing to determine the extent of any damage. Sources indicate the pipeline's capacity supports a significant portion of Saudi Arabia's crude exports.

The incident highlights vulnerabilities in the country's energy infrastructure. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

the reported strike, the pipeline continues to function without interruption.

First Squawk confirmed that oil loadings at Yanbu are proceeding as scheduled. This ensures that exports through the Red Sea terminal remain unaffected. Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company operating the pipeline, has not issued an official statement on the incident as of the latest reports.

The 1,200-kilometer pipeline, completed in 1981 and upgraded in recent years, plays a key role in diversifying export routes away from the Strait of Hormuz.

The East-West pipeline allows Saudi Arabia to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which about 20% of global oil passes.