Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia's main east-west oil pipeline will remain largely out of service for three to five weeks following a drone strike originating from Iraq that damaged a central pumping station. The pipeline may operate at partial capacity during repairs.
In an update Monday evening, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia's main east-west oil pipeline will remain largely out of service for three to five weeks following a drone strike that damaged a central pumping station. The pipeline may operate at partial capacity during repairs. This aligns with earlier official statements that the pipeline would be down for several weeks but provides a more specific timeline.
On Sunday at 15:22 Jerusalem, Saudi officials first said the pipeline would be out for several weeks without offering a precise duration (The Zioneer, 15:22). That same afternoon at 15:22, Reuters reported that export reserves could be exhausted within 5–7 days and that repairs might take 5–6 weeks (The Zioneer, 15:22). An exclusive image published by The Zioneer at 15:22 Sunday confirmed physical damage to the strategic artery. The attacks originated from Iraq, as The Zioneer reported on Saturday, with drones striking multiple points along the pipeline.
The Zioneer has previously documented that the drone strikes were attributed to Iranian-backed militias operating from Iraqi territory, and Saudi Arabia refrained from immediate retaliation at Baghdad's request. The East-West pipeline serves as a critical alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, and its extended outage threatens global oil supply.
It remains unclear whether partial operation during repairs will be feasible, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
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