Four To Five

Saudi Arabia has closed a critical oil pipeline after it was attacked by drones launched from Iraq, as the conflict in the Middle East widens. The 1,200-kilometre East-West pipeline has helped Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, bypass the Strait of Hormuz. It has been moving 4 to 5 percent of global oil supply, according to ship tracking companies and analysts cited by Reuters.[1]

Iraq admitted the drone attack originated from Maysan governorate, a province bordering Iran. Iraq's prime minister fired the operations commander in Maysan and launched an investigation. The Iraqi prime minister's office said the commander had been removed from his post following confirmation the attack was launched from that region.[2]

Riyadh said it shut the pipeline as a precaution. Satellite images showed scorched ground and smoke near the site. The Saudi foreign ministry said the attack resulted in some injuries and damage, which was still being assessed. Saudi Arabia has chosen not to retaliate at this stage, following a call from Iraq's prime minister. The kingdom said it would "support the efforts of the Iraqi government" to prevent attacks launched from its territory, while reserving the right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty.[3]

The Gulf Co-operation Council, made up of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, condemned the attack. Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi called it "a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its territorial integrity, and its vital installations, as well as a flagrant violation of the principles of international law."[4]

The incident comes amid a major advance by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who now claim control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The group says maritime navigation is "safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels." The Houthis have seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast and three strategic islands, deepening the Middle East war's impact on international commerce.[5]

The US-Iran war is now in its seventh month. Two of the world's most critical oil shipping routes are under pressure. The Strait of Hormuz, which the East-West pipeline was built to bypass, has been a flashpoint since the war began. The Bab al-Mandab Strait, now claimed by the Houthis, controls access to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Together, these two chokepoints handle a substantial portion of the world's oil and cargo traffic. Both are now threatened. The pipeline that was supposed to be the backup plan is the one that just got hit.[6]