Arab and international condemnations of the targeting of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline
Arab and Gulf condemnations continued to pour in following the drone attack on the East-West oil pipeline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an assault that resulted in injuries and material damage and led to the precautionary suspension of the pipeline’s operations. These reactions came amid warnings that targeting vital energy facilities poses a threat to regional security and global oil supplies.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the attack in the strongest terms, reaffirming its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its firm rejection of any acts targeting the security, stability, or vital infrastructure of GCC member states. The Council emphasized that targeting energy infrastructure constitutes a serious escalation that threatens regional security and stability.
Qatar expressed its strong condemnation of the attack on the East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, which was carried out by several drones originating from Iraq, and highlighted the resulting human casualties and material damage. Doha reaffirmed its solidarity with the Kingdom and its support for the measures taken to protect its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, describing the targeting of civilian, economic, and vital infrastructure facilities as a violation of international law and a threat to regional security.
Egypt joined the Arab condemnations, characterizing the attack on the pipeline as a blatant violation of international law and a undermining of regional security and stability. Cairo reaffirmed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of threats to its security and territorial integrity.
Jordan also condemned the attack, describing it as a violation of Saudi sovereignty, a threat to its security and stability, and a breach of international law and the UN Charter. Amman affirmed its support for the Kingdom.
These positions are part of a wave of Arab condemnations that, in addition to the GCC, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan, included several other Arab states that rejected the targeting of vital facilities and stood with Saudi Arabia in protecting its security and sovereignty.
On the Iraqi side, the government condemned the attack and confirmed that the strikes originated from Iraqi territory, launching an investigation to identify those responsible. In the wake of developments related to the attack, a local military commander was dismissed.
Saudi Arabia had previously announced that it would not respond militarily at this stage, in response to a request from the Iraqi Prime Minister, to allow the Iraqi government time to take necessary measures to prevent attacks from launching from its territory, while reaffirming the Kingdom’s right to take any measures it deems necessary to protect its sovereignty, security, and vital facilities.
The attack carries significance beyond its security implications, as the East-West pipeline represents one of the most important routes for transporting Saudi oil away from the Strait of Hormuz. Stretching approximately 1,200 kilometers from eastern Saudi Arabia to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea, recent data indicates that the pipeline was transporting between 4 and 5 million barrels per day in recent months, equivalent to about 4 to 5 percent of global oil supplies. Its disruption adds further pressure to energy markets, particularly amid disruptions affecting shipping routes in the region.
Saudi Arabia suspended operations on the pipeline as a precaution after it was targeted in the Riyadh and Medina regions, while emergency teams began securing the facility and assessing the damage.
