Drones from Iraq attack and set pipeline on fire in Saudi Arabia - euronews.com

**Saudi Arabia Blames Iraqi‑Based Drones for Pipeline Fire, Shuts Key Oil Route**

*Riyadh, 13 September 2026* – Saudi authorities confirmed that a series of unmanned aerial vehicles, identified as operating from Iraqi territory, struck the East–West Crude Oil Pipeline near the city of Al‑Hasa on Thursday, igniting a fire that forced an immediate shutdown of the 1,200‑kilometre conduit. The pipeline, which transports up to 5 million barrels of crude daily from the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea, was temporarily halted as emergency crews contained the blaze and assessed damage. Saudi officials, citing satellite imagery and radar tracking, said the drones entered Saudi airspace at low altitude before detonating explosives that breached the pipe’s outer wall.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea corridor, where Houthi rebels have increasingly targeted commercial shipping, prompting Saudi Arabia to tighten security and diversify export routes. In response to the attack, Riyadh announced the activation of backup pipelines and a temporary rerouting of oil through the Yanbu terminal, while also escalating aerial patrols along its northern frontier. Meanwhile, Iraq’s Ministry of Interior opened a formal investigation into the drone strikes and, as a precaution, ordered the closure of three border crossings with Iran, citing concerns over potential spillover of illicit arms movements.

International reactions have been swift. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking on a news program, suggested that Iran “is very likely behind” the operation, a claim echoed by several Western analysts who point to Tehran’s historic support for anti‑Saudi proxy groups. However, the Iraqi government has denied any involvement, urging a “thorough, transparent” inquiry and offering to cooperate with Saudi and regional partners. The incident underscores the fragile security landscape of the Gulf, where rivalries over energy infrastructure intersect with broader geopolitical contests for influence over maritime trade routes.