Saudi Arabia says East-West pipeline hit by drones launched from Iraq

Iraq condemns the attack, says Prime ⁠Minister Ali al-Zaidi orders an ⁠investigation ​into ⁠those responsible.Saudi Arabia has expressed its “strongest condemnation” after its East-West oil pipeline was hit by drones launched from Iraq.In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, it said the pipeline was targeted in the Riyadh and Medina areas by “several drones originating from Iraq”, resulting in injuries and material damage.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Why Pakistan is talking to Iran as the Houthi-Saudi fight escalateslist 2 of 3Can the Houthis close the Red Sea after seizing the Yemen coast?list 3 of 3Can BRICS help reshape global order by strengthening emerging economies?end of listIt added, however, that it would not retaliate for now following a request from Baghdad, while reserving the ⁠right to take ⁠all necessary measures to protect its ⁠sovereignty, security ⁠and critical facilities.“At the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister to allow the brotherly Iraqi government the opportunity to take the necessary measures to prevent attacks launched from Iraqi territory against the Kingdom and neighbouring countries, the Kingdom has chosen not to respond at this stage and to support the efforts of the Iraqi government,” said the statement posted on X.Earlier, an official from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy also told the state news agency, SPA, that the pipeline had been temporarily shut.“The pipeline was stopped as a precaution, and the attacks resulted in some injuries,” the official said.Iraq ⁠welcomed ⁠Saudi Arabia’s decision to hold ⁠off on retaliation, and said it “appreciates” Riyadh’s response to its efforts to contain the situation.Iraq “condemns” the attack and affirms its “rejection of any aggression that threatens the Kingdom’s security and stability or harms the deep-rooted fraternal relations between the two countries,” said the statement issued by Sabah al-Numan, the spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of Iraq’s Armed Forces.