Middle Eastupdated 1h ago2 min read
MapSaudi Energy Ministry Says East-West Pipeline in Madinah Targeted, Operations Unaffected
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East-West pipeline in Medina region targeted, sparking a limited fire. Emergency teams extinguished the fire with no injuries or fatalities.
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Pipeline Fire in Medina
Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline in the Madinah region was targeted on Monday, triggering a limited fire that emergency teams extinguished, according to a Saudi Ministry of Energy source carried by Saudi Press Agency. The Saudi Ministry of Energy source said the incident caused no injuries or fatalities and did not affect pipeline operations, and emergency and specialized technical teams began work immediately after the attack. The line, also known as the Petroline, spans about 1,200 kilometers and connects oil production and processing facilities in the eastern town of Qatif to export facilities in Yanbu to the west, according to Saudi Energy Ministry data.
Saudi Arabia previously announced the same line was targeted on September 10 of last year in a drone attack from Iraqi territory, and Saudi Arabia suspended line operations as a precaution then. The Saudi Ministry of Energy source also said the fire response included measures to secure the site and verify its safety in accordance with approved safety procedures and emergency plans.
No Disruption, No Casualties
Saudi Press Agency reporting, carried through Anadolu Ajansı, said the Energy Ministry official reported that no injuries or fatalities were reported and pipeline operations were not affected. The Saudi government did not attribute the attack to any group and the action had not been claimed to date. Saudi Arabia had previously announced the same line was targeted on September 10 of last year in a drone attack from Iraqi territory, and it suspended line operations as a precaution after that attack.
The limited fire was quickly extinguished without affecting operations or causing casualties, and it described the pipeline as a crucial route for global oil supply. The emergency teams and specialized technical teams began their work immediately after the attack, taking the necessary measures to secure the site and verify its safety.
Petroline’s Role and Context
The East-West line enables Saudi Arabia to transport crude oil by sea to the Red Sea and export it along the western coast, reducing dependence on the Hormuz Strait. The line’s maximum throughput is about 7 million barrels per day, and Aramco allocates around two million barrels per day of its capacity to feed the Western Coast refineries. The attack came after the Houthi group intensified its attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, alongside attacks on airports and other facilities.
The Houthi military spokesman said they targeted King Khalid International Airport and the financial center in Riyadh, in addition to Aramco in Qatif, with a number of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. A responsible source at the Saudi Ministry of Energy reported that one of Aramco’s administrative buildings in Riyadh was targeted, resulting in shrapnel damage to the building and limited damage with no injuries or fatalities.