---
title: "Saudi Arabia shuts East-West oil pipeline after drone strikes "
url: https://moldova1.md/p/85188/saudi-arabia-shuts-east-west-oil-pipeline-after-drone-strikes
published: 2026-09-12T11:51:14Z
language: en
author: "Rodica Mazur"
section: "International"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Saudi Arabia shuts East-West oil pipeline after drone strikes 

> Saudi Arabia shut its critical East-West crude pipeline following repeated drone strikes launched from Iraq, as Houthi forces seized Yemen's coastline, threatening European supplies and pushing oil above $108 a barrel.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/56e89567-4b23-4290-a9a4-4030933a875e.jpg)

Saudi Arabia shut its critical East-West crude pipeline following repeated drone strikes launched from Iraq, as Houthi forces seized Yemen's coastline, threatening European supplies and pushing oil above $108 a barrel.

**Strategic maritime chokepoints under severe strain**

The Saudi Ministry of Energy confirmed the operational halt late on September 11, following drone incursions that began on Thursday and extended through Saturday morning. Satellite imagery revealed substantial structural damage at a central pumping station, where ground fires erupted immediately following the impacts.

The 1,200-kilometer conduit, known as Petroline, serves as Europe’s primary alternative energy lifeline following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The artery had been redirecting approximately 7 million barrels per day—out of 20 million barrels previously exported from the Persian Gulf—directly across the peninsula to the Red Sea, feeding Mediterranean ports via the Suez Canal. European benchmark crude surpassed $108 a barrel this week, touching its highest level in three months as regional hostilities escalated.

Iraqi officials launched an urgent inquiry to identify the domestic launch coordinates utilized in the unmanned strikes, focusing on pro-Iranian paramilitary groups operating autonomously across the country. *“Security authorities are working to pinpoint the launch vectors and hold unauthorized actors accountable,”* an Iraqi government representative said.

Simultaneously, Houthi forces completed a rapid ground offensive across western Yemen, seizing total control of the Red Sea coast and catching Saudi-supported government brigades off guard. The maneuver grants Tehran-aligned forces operational dominance over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, through which vital Asia-to-Europe trade routes transit. Following the breakthrough, Houthi commanders reiterated that their naval interdiction regime remains targeted exclusively against Saudi-flagged shipping.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/dbe083d1-8556-4a0c-be50-65a6b4c38a80.jpg)

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