Drones From Iraq Strike Saudi Arabia’s Crucial Oil Pipeline
Saudi Arabia’s important East-West oil pipeline was hit by drones on Friday. The Kingdom announced that these drones were launched from Iraqi territory. The attack caused some injuries and material damage to the pipeline.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong condemnation. The ministry said multiple drones targeted the pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions. This incident has sparked serious concerns about regional stability.
The pipeline was temporarily closed for safety reasons. An official from the Saudi Ministry of Energy confirmed the shutdown. This pipeline is vital for Saudi Arabia. It moves oil to the Red Sea coast, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia stated it would not retaliate with force for now. This decision followed a request from the Iraqi Prime Minister. Iraq asked for the chance to act. It wants to stop attacks launched from its land against Saudi Arabia and nearby countries. Saudi Arabia confirmed its support for Iraq’s efforts. Yet, Saudi Arabia still holds the right to protect its sovereignty and critical sites.
Iraq strongly condemned the drone attack. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ordered a full investigation. He wants to find those responsible for the incident. Iraq’s armed forces spokesperson, Sabah al-Numan, stressed Iraq’s position. He said Iraq rejects any aggression threatening Saudi security. He also mentioned the deep friendship between the two nations.
Mr. al-Numan added that Iraq’s land and air will not be used to launch aggression. Prime Minister al-Zaidi affirmed that Iraq will not tolerate any activity. Such activity might endanger Iraq or its ties with friendly countries. Satellite pictures from Thursday showed black smoke. This smoke was visible near Medina, along the path of the oil pipeline. This visual evidence confirmed the drone strike.
