Drone strike damages Saudi Arabia's major east-west oil pipeline

A drone hit Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline on September 11, 2026, forcing authorities to shut it down. The pipeline normally moves four to five million barrels of oil every day, which is about five percent of the world's supply. Satellite images confirmed damage and smoke at the site. Saudi officials say the drone came from Iraqi territory, and Baghdad has opened an investigation. People were injured in the attack, and the full damage is still being assessed. Repairs could take several weeks, though some sources say the pipeline may partly restart sooner. Saudi Arabia holds only five to seven days of export supplies at its Red Sea port of Yanbu. A similar attack in April 2026 was repaired within three days.