Saudi Arabia shut down its crucial East-West crude oil pipeline as a precautionary measure after multiple attacks, the kingdom’s Energy Ministry said Friday in a statement.
The pipeline was targeted in the Riyadh and Madinah regions on Thursday morning, the ministry said. Multiple people were injured in the attacks, it said.
Emergency teams were deployed to secure the pipeline and assess its safety, the ministry said. “Any further developments will be announced in due course,” it said.
The Saudis have relied on the East-West pipeline to shift crude oil exports away from Persian Gulf as the U.S. and Iran battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz. Riyadh has redirected millions of barrels per day through the pipeline to the Red Sea.
The Saudis did not say who was behind the attacks or whether the pipeline suffered significant damage. However, Iran-allied Houthi militants in Yemen have escalated strikes on Saudi Arabia this week.
Oil prices fell Friday after rallying more than 6% in the previous session. Brent and West Texas Intermediate broke $100 per barrel this week for the first time in months. The contracts closed out the week more than 8% higher on escalating fighting in the Middle East.
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