Drone strikes on the East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia occurred around September 11, 2026. The attacks, attributed to Iran-backed militias from Iraq, forced a complete suspension of oil loadings at the Yanbu terminal on the Red Sea.
The pipeline had a capacity of 7 million barrels per day and was operating at approximately 4 million barrels per day. This route served as a critical alternative after the Strait of Hormuz became effectively impassable due to regional conflict.
Following the incident, Brent crude prices rose to $108 per barrel, the highest level since May 2026. The market is currently accounting for the potential loss of roughly 4% of the global oil supply for several weeks.
Saudi oil production in August 2026 reached 6,238 million barrels per day, the lowest level since 1990. Exports during the same period fell to 3,2 million barrels per day, marking a 13-year low.
Repair timelines for the damaged infrastructure are estimated to range from a few days to eight weeks. Analysts warn that the current supply disruption may create inflationary pressure on global consumer prices.
