Drones attack key oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia, CNN reports
Photo: Saudi Arabia (Getty Images)
In Saudi Arabia, a key east-west oil pipeline was attacked, damaging the facility's pumping stations, CNN reports.
According to US officials, the pumping stations located near the main pipeline were damaged in the strikes.
Satellite images from Friday recorded significant fire damage at one of the stations, while images from Thursday showed a smaller fire with thick black smoke at another facility.
US intelligence agencies are currently collecting intelligence and determining whether the pipeline itself was damaged and how long repairs will take. Experts note that repairing pumping stations could take less time than fixing serious ruptures directly on the main pipeline.
Who is behind the attack
Officially, no one has yet claimed responsibility for the strike. However, one source said that the attack was carried out by drones based in Iraq.
Analysts at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies note that Iran-backed Iraqi groups have previously used drones to strike Saudi infrastructure. Such actions could be part of Tehran's broader strategy of pressuring Arab countries to force them to end the presence of US troops in the region.
Later, the Saudi Ministry of Energy reported that the pipeline had been temporarily shut down following the strikes.
Strategic importance of the oil pipeline
The East-West Pipeline became critically important to Riyadh after the confrontation between the US and Iran began. Since Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia is rerouting around 5 million barrels of oil per day through this route to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea.
This export route is under threat, as Houthi militants previously said they intended to strike any Saudi vessels attempting to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
On September 11, Yemeni Houthis reached the strategically important island of Perim, located in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which a significant share of global oil flows.
Reuters believes that full Houthi control over the strait could give their patron Iran a significant strategic advantage in its confrontation with the US.
