US officials confirm attack on Saudi East-West oil pipeline system, with some pump stations damaged

According to CNN, citing two U.S. officials, Saudi Arabia's critical East-West oil pipeline system was struck by projectiles on Thursday local time. Preliminary analysis indicates that pump stations beside the pipeline were hit, with satellite images showing one station suffering extensive fire damage and another experiencing a smaller fire and billowing thick smoke. It is currently unclear who is responsible for the attack, whether the pipeline itself was damaged, or how long repairs will take. One U.S. official stated that the drones conducting the attack came from the direction of Iraq. The importance of Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline has increased following the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war. With Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has rerouted approximately 5 million barrels per day of crude oil, originally shipped to Persian Gulf tankers, through this pipeline to Yanbu Port on the Red Sea. At the same time, the Houthi armed group has announced they will attack any Saudi vessels attempting to transit the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, putting this alternative Saudi oil export route at risk as well.