Saudi Oil Pipeline to Remain Offline for Weeks After Attack

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, two informed officials told the Associated Press that a key Saudi Arabian oil pipeline, targeted in an attack last week, will be largely out of operation for several weeks during repairs for the damages incurred. The officials, who are aware of the situation, stated that repairing the inflicted damage, including at a major pumping facility, could take between three to five weeks. One of the officials mentioned that the pipeline might continue to operate partially concurrently with repair teams’ work. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to a lack of authorization to provide information to the media. The East-West pipeline, which traverses across Saudi Arabia, is a vital component of the country’s strategy to transport its oil exports to the Red Sea, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, a passage experiencing shipping disruptions due to the United States’ conflict with Iran. The 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) pipeline has a capacity to transfer up to seven million barrels of oil daily. A drone attack on this facility on Thursday halted the pipeline’s operations.