Saudi Arabia halts East-West oil pipeline after attacks in Riyadh and Medina regions

Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline was temporarily shut down on Thursday following multiple attacks in the Riyadh and Medina regions, the country's energy ministry said.

The ministry, cited in state media, said the incidents led to the pipeline being taken out of service for a period. Some people were injured in the attacks and received medical treatment, it added.

The East-West pipeline is a vital artery for Saudi crude, carrying oil across the kingdom from the eastern fields to the Red Sea coast. A halt on the route can affect both domestic supply flows and export operations.

No further details were immediately available on the nature of the attacks, the extent of the damage, or when the pipeline would resume operations. The ministry did not specify how many people were hurt or the severity of their injuries.

Authorities have not publicly identified any group or individual as being behind the strikes. The incident is the latest disruption to energy infrastructure in the region, where such facilities have repeatedly been targets.