Iraq Fires Maysan Commander After Drone Strikes Shut Saudi Pipeline

Iraq has moved to contain the fallout from drone attacks that forced Saudi Arabia to shut its East-West pipeline, after the strikes were traced to a launch site inside Iraqi territory.

Early on Saturday, Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi dismissed the operations commander of Maysan province and ordered an investigation, according to a statement. Maysan borders Iran.

Saudi Arabia closed the conduit as a precautionary measure on Friday after several drones targeted the pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Iraq has faced sustained pressure to restrain local Iran-backed militias that assist proxy groups elsewhere in the region, with limited success. Its territory has become a key base for Tehran's retaliatory actions across the Gulf.

The East-West pipeline has grown into a critical lifeline for Saudi oil exports, particularly amid disruption linked to the Iran war. The 7 million barrel-a-day conduit reached full capacity earlier this year after tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz came to a near standstill.

Iran-backed Houthi forces have added to the pressure, advancing along Yemen's Red Sea coast toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait while continuing missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia that have forced several energy sites to halt operations.

Greater Houthi control over that area would strengthen their ability to disrupt shipping through another energy chokepoint, adding pressure to already elevated oil prices and complicating Saudi efforts to shield its economy from regional conflict.

Oil prices were little changed after the Saudi ministry's statement, with Brent futures trading at about $105 a barrel. Brent had surged on Thursday, almost reaching $110, on speculation about the conflict's impact on regional energy supplies.

Since the drone attacks, Iraq has also ordered the closure of the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran as a precautionary measure.