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Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry issued its "strongest condemnation" of a drone attack that struck its East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, as regional and international bodies added their own condemnations and the kingdom shut down the pipeline as a precaution.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strongest condemnation of the targeting of the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions by several drones coming from Iraq, which resulted in human injuries and some damages that are being addressed," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said Saudi Arabia had decided, at the request of Iraq's prime minister, to give the Iraqi government "the opportunity to take the necessary measures to prevent the attacks launched from Iraqi territory against the kingdom and neighboring states," and that Riyadh valued Iraq's efforts and supported its government.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms that it reserves its right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, its security, its facilities, and its citizens and residents in it," the ministry said.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi condemned the strike "in the strongest terms," calling it "a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its territorial integrity, and its vital installations," as well as "a flagrant violation of the principles of international law."
He urged Iraq to take "necessary, decisive measures" to prevent its territory from being used as a launchpad for such attacks, and reaffirmed the council's "complete and steadfast solidarity" with Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain's Foreign Ministry, in a statement carried by the Bahrain News Agency, called the attack a "blatant violation" of international law, the UN Charter and principles of good neighborliness, expressing full solidarity with Saudi Arabia's right to protect its sovereignty, security and infrastructure.
The Mecca-based Muslim World League also "strongly condemned" the attack, with Secretary-General Mohammed bin Abdulkarim al-Issa saying it "violates all religious values, international and humanitarian laws and norms."
The organization said it stood in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in all measures it takes to "deter aggressors" and preserve its security and sovereignty.
Jordan and Qatar also condemned the attack.
The Saudi Energy Ministry said the East-West Pipeline was struck by multiple drones Thursday morning in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, prompting officials to shut it down "as a precautionary measure."
Several people were injured and received medical care, though the ministry did not specify the number or condition of casualties.
Emergency and technical teams were deployed to secure the pipeline and assess damage.
Satellite images from Copernicus Sentinel data taken Thursday showed black smoke rising near Medina along the pipeline's route.
The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, also commander-in-chief of Iraq's armed forces, confirmed the attack had originated from Iraqi territory and said the military commander overseeing operations in the southern Maysan province, which borders Iran, had been dismissed after authorities determined the strike was launched from that region.
Al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the attack and those responsible, directing authorities to pursue legal action against anyone found involved.
Iraq's government said it condemned "the attacks targeting our brethren in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" and reiterated that Iraqi territory and airspace "will not be a launching point for attacks against any country."
Iraq separately ordered the closure of the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran as a precautionary measure, according to two security sources cited by Reuters.
The crossing serves as a major route for food imports from Iran.
Tensions between Riyadh and Baghdad had already escalated in late July, when Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones launched from Iraq targeting oil facilities in its Eastern Province and Riyadh region, blaming Iranian-backed militias.
Iraq subsequently formed a joint security committee aimed at preventing such attacks.
The dispute escalated further on July 29, when U.S. and Saudi forces struck sites belonging to the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq, which the group said killed 20 of its members and wounded 32 others. Saudi Arabia described the strikes as self-defense in response to earlier attacks on its petroleum facilities.
The East-West Pipeline, built in the 1980s and running 1,200 kilometers across the Arabian Peninsula from Abqaiq to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, has become critical to Saudi Arabia's ability to export crude since Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, carrying an estimated 4-5 million barrels per day, or roughly 4-5% of global oil supply, according to ship-tracking data cited by Reuters.
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