RIYADH, Sep 12 (Alliance News): Saudi authorities said Friday that drones launched from Iraq forced the temporary closure of a crucial oil export route used to bypass the lockdown of the Strait of Hormuz.
Riyadh has increased its use of the East-West pipeline, which connects Abqaiq near the Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, since the start of the Middle East war as it seeks to bypass Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned “the targeting of the East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions by several drones coming from Iraq, which caused human injuries and damage”.
An energy ministry official told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the pipeline was stopped as a precaution and that the attacks resulted in injuries.
Satellite images from Copernicus Sentinel Data taken on Thursday showed black smoke rising near Medina, along the general route of the East-West pipeline, which carries Saudi oil to the Red Sea coast.
The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi confirmed that the attack originated from Iraqi territory and said the commander responsible for the southern province of Maysan had been dismissed.
The Iraqi government said it condemned “the attacks targeting our brethren in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia originated from a location within the governorate”.
‘Dangerous escalation’
Riyadh said that, at the request of the Iraqi prime minister, it had decided “not to respond at this stage” and would support efforts by the Iraqi government to prevent attacks launched from Iraq against Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries.
Saudi Arabia has previously accused Iranian-backed Iraqi militias of targeting its oil infrastructure.
However, Riyadh stressed that it “reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, its security, its facilities” and its people.
Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar also condemned the attack on the Saudi pipeline, while the Gulf Cooperation Council described it as “a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to the security of the Kingdom”.
Oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel this week, while average US diesel prices topped $6 for the first time on Friday, adding pressure on US President Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia in July. The Houthis have attacked Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea as Riyadh supports the Yemeni government.
The Houthis also announced on Friday that they had taken control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, consolidating their grip over the strategic passage linking Europe and Asia.
The Houthis said navigation through the Bab al-Mandab Strait remained “safe” for all except Saudi Arabia following their latest advances.
