Saudi Arabia reports new attack on key East-West pipeline

Saudi Arabia's critical East-West oil pipeline has suffered another attack, according to state media.

Key points

• The 1, 200km (745-mile) pipeline runs through the desert throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
• The Houthis have additionally repeatedly targeted Saudi oil infrastructure, including refineries and storage facilities, with drones and missiles.
• The pipeline is essential for bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
• "No injuries or fatalities were reported, and pipeline operations were unaffected, " it remarked.

According to An official at the Saudi Ministry of Energy, the pipeline was targeted in the Medina region in the west of the country on Monday, causing a "limited fire" that was extinguished, the Saudi Press Agency noted.

Notably, the report did not identify the party behind the attack, but fighting continues to intensify between Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni administration coalition that it backs, and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

For context, the pipeline is essential for bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. It remains tightly constricted by the US-Israel war on Iran. It has come under attack a number of times as the war on Iran fuels a global energy crisis.

For context, the Houthis have additionally repeatedly targeted Saudi oil infrastructure, including refineries and storage facilities, with drones and missiles.

For context, the 1, 200km (745-mile) pipeline runs through the desert throughout the Arabian Peninsula. It was shut down for a number of days in September after drone attacks. It saudi Arabia stated were introduced from Iraq.

Since the conflict disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, Riyadh has rerouted regarding 4 million barrels per day of crude via the East-West pipeline to Yanbu, equivalent to concerning 4 percent of global supply.

Taken together, the developments around saudi Arabia reports new attack on key East point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.