Saudi East-West Oil Pipeline Suspended After Drone Attack; Recovery May Take 3-5 Weeks

Saudi Arabia has halted operations on its East-West oil pipeline after it was struck by drones. The pipeline connects Gulf Coast oilfields to Red Sea ports across a 1200km transport network. Saudi Energy Ministry described the shutdown as a 'preventive measure' on November 11. The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that multiple drones launched from Iraq were used in the attack, while Reuters reported that restoring key pump facilities could take 3-5 weeks. Reuters also noted the pipeline closure may affect around 4% of global oil supply. Actual transportation volumes and impacts on international oil prices or global energy supply remain unconfirmed.