--- title: "Saudi Arabia Shuts East-West Oil Pipeline After Drone Attacks" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/saudi-arabia-shuts-east-west-oil-pipeline-after-drone-attacks" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/saudi-arabia-shuts-east-west-oil-pipeline-after-drone-attacks" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/saudi-arabia-shuts-east-west-oil-pipeline-after-drone-attacks.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/saudi-arabia-shuts-east-west-oil-pipeline-after-drone-attacks" category: "Business & Economy" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-09-14T06:45:37.014Z" source_reported: "2026-09-14T06:15:38.474Z" updated: "2026-09-14T07:30:32.321Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 28 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-14T06:45:16.169934+00:00" --- # Saudi Arabia Shuts East-West Oil Pipeline After Drone Attacks *Closure of 1,200km pipeline, which bypasses Strait of Hormuz, raises fears of global supply crunch and pushes oil prices higher.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Trust high (86) due to multiple named officials, OPEC report, and independent full reports with specific figures. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic high (95) as article explains impact, quotes officials, separates facts, gives specific data and next steps. - Hype 28 of 100, lower is better. Hype moderate (28); language factual with limited sensational phrasing, no clickbait headline-body mismatch. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Saudi Arabia shut its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after drone attacks originating from Iraq. - The pipeline is a critical export route, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz and carrying approximately four percent of global oil supply. - Oil prices rose following the shutdown, with Brent crude reaching around $108 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate nearing $103 per barrel. - The extent of the damage to the pipeline and the timeline for its repair remain undisclosed. Saudi Arabia has closed its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after drone attacks launched from Iraq. The pipeline is a vital export route, allowing the kingdom to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and ship approximately four percent of global oil output, estimated at six to seven million barrels per day. The closure has led to an increase in oil prices, with Brent crude reaching around $108 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate nearing $103 per barrel. The Saudi Energy Ministry confirmed the suspension of operations on Friday, stating it was a precautionary measure following multiple attacks in the Riyadh and Madinah regions on Thursday. Details regarding the damage sustained by the pipeline or the planned resumption of operations have not been provided. Industry sources suggest that if the pipeline remains offline, existing stocks at the Yanbu port could support exports for only five to seven days, and repairs could take over a month due to a potential lack of spare parts. ## Disagreement on Pipeline Capacity Reports differ on the exact volume of oil the East-West pipeline supplied. WA Today reported that the pipeline rerouted about four million barrels a day. The National stated the full pumping capacity amounts to about seven million barrels per day, and Ahmad Assiri, a research strategist at Pepperstone, suggested the pipeline supplied the world with six to seven million barrels per day pre-closure, representing 30 to 40 percent of crude supply out of the Gulf. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mentioned the specific origin of the drone attacks as being from Iraq, a detail present in the verified claims and reported by The National and The Sunday Guardian Live. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 50% (3) - Centre: 50% (3) - Right: 0% (0) 14 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-14T06:45:16.169934+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-14T07:45:13.241Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports led with fears of an oil shock and supply disruption. The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and Brisbane Times all used the headline "Oil shock fears back on radar as pipeline attack chokes supply." These reports highlighted that the attack on the East-West pipeline could remove four percent of global supply and that crude prices are increasing due to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on the rise in oil prices and the shutdown of the Saudi pipeline. WA Today's headline was "Oil shock fears back on radar as pipeline attack chokes supply." The National reported "Oil nears $108 after Saudi Arabia shuts pipeline amid attacks." Oil Price's headline stated "Brent Hits $108 as Saudi Pipeline Shutdown Deepens Supply Fears." These reports detailed the price increases for Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude and noted the pipeline's role in bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 4 - unknown: 15 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Actualno.com](https://actualno.com/economy/cenata-na-petrola-skochi-oshte-zaradi-tryboprovoda-na-sauditska-arabija-zaobikaljasht-ormuz-news_2639022.html) — Oil Prices Surge Further Due to Saudi Arabia's Pipeline Bypassing Hormuz - [rador.ro](https://rador.ro/2026/09/14/preturile-titeiului-cresc-din-nou-dupa-inchiderea-unei-conducte-importante-din-arabia-saudita) — Oil Prices Are Rising Again, After Closing a Major Pipeline in Saudi Arabia – the Rador Press Agency - [the deep dive](https://thedeepdive.ca/saudi-arabia-confirms-east-west-pipeline-attack-shuts-down-main-hormuz-bypass) — Saudi Arabia Confirms East-West Pipeline Attack, Shuts Down Main Hormuz Bypass - [NEWSru.co.il](https://newsru.co.il/finance/14sep2026/oil_prices_116.html) — Oil Values Against the Backdrop of New Attacks and the Shutdown of Saudi Arabia ' S Key Pipeline - [Nieuws.nl](https://nieuws.nl/economie/olieprijzen-stijgen-om-stilleggen-saudische-pijpleiding-na-aanval) — Oil Prices Rise over Shutdown of Saudi Pipeline Following Attack - [welingelichtekringen.nl](https://welingelichtekringen.nl/economie/olieprijzen-stijgen-om-stilleggen-saudische-pijpleiding-na-aanval) — Oil Prices Rise over Shutdown of Saudi Pipeline Following Attack - [Sydney Morning Herald](https://smh.com.au/world/middle-east/oil-shock-fears-back-on-radar-as-pipeline-attack-chokes-supply-20260914-p60x01.html) — Oil shock fears back on radar as pipeline attack chokes supply - [The Age](https://theage.com.au/world/middle-east/oil-shock-fears-back-on-radar-as-pipeline-attack-chokes-supply-20260914-p60x01.html) — Oil shock fears back on radar as pipeline attack chokes supply - [Brisbane Times](https://brisbanetimes.com.au/world/middle-east/oil-shock-fears-back-on-radar-as-pipeline-attack-chokes-supply-20260914-p60x01.html) — Oil shock fears back on radar as pipeline attack chokes supply - [WA today](https://watoday.com.au/world/middle-east/oil-shock-fears-back-on-radar-as-pipeline-attack-chokes-supply-20260914-p60x01.html) — Oil shock fears back on radar as pipeline attack chokes supply - [insider.gr](https://insider.gr/agores/424630/petrelaio-o-agogos-tis-saoydikis-arabias-othei-tis-times-toy-petrelaioy) — Oil: Saudi Arabia Pipeline Pushes up Oil Prices - [India TV Hindi Hindi](https://indiatv.in/paisa/business/crude-oil-prices-neared-103-dollars-per-barrel-rates-had-risen-9-percent-last-week-2026-09-14-1243097) — Crude Oil Prices Reach Near $103, up 9% Last Week - India TV Hindi - [Moneycab](https://moneycab.com/maerkte/oelpreise-legen-wieder-zu-brent-preis-bei-fast-108-dollar) — Oil Prices Rise Again - Brent Price at Almost 108 Dollars - [inyheter.no](https://inyheter.no/14/09/2026/satellittbilder-avslorer-skadene-oljen-skyter-mot-108-dollar) — Satellite Images Reveal the Damage – Oil Shoots Towards $108 - [Invezz](https://invezz.com/news/2026/09/14/brent-nears-108-after-saudi-pipeline-hit-why-120-oil-is-back-on-the-table) — Brent nears $108 after Saudi pipeline hit: why $120 oil is back on the table - [negocios.com](https://negocios.com/articulo/mercados/petroleo-dispara-casi-3-brent-alcanza-10760-dolares-ataque-arabia-saudi/20260914065346493775.html) — Oil Shoots Almost 3% and Brent Reaches $107.60 After the Attack on Saudi Arabia - [The National](https://thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2026/09/14/oil-nears-108-after-saudi-arabia-shuts-pipeline-amid-attacks) — Oil nears $108 after Saudi Arabia shuts pipeline amid attacks - [The Sunday Guardian Live](https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/us-israel-iran-war-latest-news-saudi-oil-pipeline-hit-by-drone-attack-will-india-face-crude-supply-risks-284315) — US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Saudi Oil Pipeline Hit By Drone Attack; Will India Face Crude Supply Risks? - [Oil Price](https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Brent-Hits-108-as-Saudi-Pipeline-Shutdown-Deepens-Supply-Fears.html) — Brent Hits $108 as Saudi Pipeline Shutdown Deepens Supply Fears - [asiae.co.kr](https://asiae.co.kr/article/2026091409142519536) — Brent Crude Surges, Threatening the $110 Mark… "Aftermath of Attack on Saudi Diversion Pipeline" ## Questions **Why did Saudi Arabia shut its East-West oil pipeline?** Saudi Arabia shut its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline as a precautionary measure following drone attacks in the Riyadh and Madinah regions. The pipeline is a critical export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. **How much oil does the East-West pipeline carry?** The East-West pipeline is reported to carry approximately four percent of global oil output, estimated at six to seven million barrels per day. This closure removes a significant portion of supply from the market. **What impact did the pipeline shutdown have on oil prices?** The closure of the pipeline led to a significant increase in oil prices. Brent crude rose to around $108 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate reached approximately $103 per barrel following the news. **When will the pipeline be operational again?** The extent of the damage to the pipeline and the timeline for its repair have not been disclosed by Saudi authorities. Industry sources suggest repairs could take over a month. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/saudi-arabia-shuts-east-west-oil-pipeline-after-drone-attacks. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Saudi Arabia Shuts East-West Oil Pipeline After Drone Attacks", https://mediabias.news/business/saudi-arabia-shuts-east-west-oil-pipeline-after-drone-attacks