The east–west pipeline is attacked by drones from Iraq and shut as a precaution

What happened

The east–west pipeline is struck on the morning of Thursday 10 September in the Riyadh and Medina areas. The Ministry of Energy states the line was shut down as a precautionary measure after multiple attacks, with a number of injuries requiring medical care; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states the following day that the pipeline was targeted by several drones originating from Iraq, that Saudi Arabia will not respond at this stage at the request of the Iraqi prime minister, and that it reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and critical facilities. Iraq says its investigations show the drones were launched from Maysan province, dismisses the commander of the Maysan Operations Command and orders an investigative council. Satellite-based analysis reported substantial impacts at two pumping stations, with extensive fire damage at one; no operator damage assessment has been published. No group claimed the attack.

THE HORMUZ ALTERNATIVE ITSELF WAS ATTACKED, on the same morning the port at the head of the Red Sea outlet it delivers to changed hands. The pipeline exists to move Saudi crude away from one contested strait; within forty-eight hours the route was under pressure at its middle and at its mouth. This was also the first attack on Saudi territory in this war launched from Iraq, and Riyadh's decision not to respond is a fact about Saudi choice, not about Saudi capability. The shutdown is what the Ministry of Energy announced; how long the line stays down, and what was actually damaged, are not established here.

Confidence: High