# Saudi Arabia shuts its Hormuz bypass after drone hit

> A drone flown from Iraq forced Saudi Arabia to close the pipeline it built to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, and oil passed $100.
- Title: Saudi Arabia shuts its Hormuz bypass after drone hit
- Summary: A drone flown from Iraq forced Saudi Arabia to close the pipeline it built to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, and oil passed $100. The Middle East conflict has…
- Keywords: oil, saudi arabia, iraq, yemen, houthis, news, world, Saudi, Arabia, shuts, Hormuz, bypass
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62m933465eo
- Published: 2026-09-12T04:20:43.108+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: oil, saudi arabia, iraq, yemen, houthis, news, world
## A pipeline goes dark
Saudi Arabia shut its East-West oil pipeline on Friday after drones struck it. The foreign ministry says there were injuries and damage still being counted.
## The drones came from Iraq
Baghdad admitted the attack was launched from Maysan, a province on its border with Iran. It fired the operations commander there and opened an investigation.
## Why this line matters
The 1,200km pipeline lets the world's largest crude exporter move oil without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. It has been carrying 4% to 5% of global supply.
## Riyadh holds its fire
After a call from Iraq's prime minister, Saudi Arabia chose not to retaliate for now, while Gulf neighbours called the strike a dangerous escalation.

> The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms that it reserves its right to take all necessary measures
## Houthis take the coast
In Yemen, a lightning advance handed Houthi fighters much of the coastline. They claim the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the way into the Red Sea and Suez.

> maritime navigation is "safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels"
## Oil clears $100
With pressure on both flanks of the Arabian Peninsula and the US-Iran war in its seventh month, crude passed $100 a barrel for the first time since July.
## Key takeaway

The Middle East conflict has reached the infrastructure Saudi Arabia built as its insurance policy, and both sides of the Arabian Peninsula are now squeezed at once.