Saudi Arabia Condemns Iraq-Launched Drone Strikes on Its Oil Pipeline
Riyadh suspends East-West pipeline operations after drones from Iraqi territory strike Riyadh and Medina sections, injuring personnel and causing material damage, but declines military retaliation to give Baghdad time to act, while reserving all rights to defend itself
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Friday strongly condemning drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory against its East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, while announcing that it will not respond militarily at this stage at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, in order to give Baghdad the opportunity to take the necessary measures to prevent further attacks originating from Iraqi soil against Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly condemns these attacks carried out against the main East-West oil pipeline in both the Riyadh and Medina regions," the Foreign Ministry said, confirming the attacks were carried out by drones originating from Iraqi territory, causing injuries to a number of people and some material damage to the pipeline that is now being repaired and addressed.
On the decision not to respond militarily, the Saudi Foreign Ministry clarified that the decision was made at the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister, with the aim of giving the Baghdad government the opportunity to take the necessary and assured measures to prevent attacks and transgressions originating from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries. Riyadh therefore decided not to respond at this stage and to support the efforts of the Iraqi government.
Despite the decision not to respond at this time, Saudi Arabia concluded its statement with a firm reservation of all options. The kingdom stressed that it fully preserves its right to take all measures necessary to protect its sovereignty, security, institutions, citizens, and all those residing on its territory.
Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry had confirmed the attack earlier on Friday, saying that in the early morning of Thursday, September 10, 2026, the East-West oil pipeline was struck in both the Riyadh and Medina regions, injuring a number of people who received immediate medical care. As a precautionary safety measure, operations in the pipeline were suspended, with emergency response teams and specialized technical teams dispatched immediately to assess the damage and take steps to protect the line.
According to a CNN report on Friday citing two US officials, initial assessments revealed that pumping stations located alongside the main pipeline were struck. One official indicated the attacks were carried out by drones originating from within Iraqi territory, though it remains unclear whether the pipeline itself sustained structural damage or how long repairs will take.
The East-West pipeline has taken on decisive strategic importance for Saudi Arabia since Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz in February 2026. Before the war, Saudi Arabia exported approximately 5 million barrels of oil per day through the Gulf, most of which transited Hormuz. After the strait closed, Riyadh rerouted that entire volume through the East-West pipeline to the Red Sea port of Yanbu for export via the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Donald Trump twice on Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group simultaneously closed in on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Axios reported, citing two US officials. Trump declined both calls, with US officials stressing that the administration has no plans to intervene directly against the Houthis for now.
The attack on the East-West pipeline arrived on the same day that the Houthis captured the port city of Mocha and, according to Yemeni government sources, the strategic Perim Island in the middle of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The simultaneous targeting of the East-West pipeline by drones from Iraq and the Houthis' capture of Bab al-Mandeb strategic positions means Saudi Arabia faced threats to both ends of its primary Hormuz bypass route on the same day. Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had declared on August 29, 2026, that either all Gulf states export their oil freely or none will, framing the targeting of Saudi export infrastructure as a deliberate and strategic implementation of that ultimatum.