The disruption triggered a dispute between news agencies, with AFP reporting that strikes disabled 4 of 13 pumping stations and caused big damage, while Bloomberg and Reuters maintained that flows remained normal. While some satellite imagery showed smoke plumes stretching 50km, other analyses of Sentinel-2 data suggested the smoke came from routine flaring rather than fire. The route can move 7 million barrels a day and is vital for global markets because it avoids the risks of the Strait of Hormuz.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Saudi Arabia Restarts East West Pipeline 6 Days After Houthi Attacks
Commodities15 days ago
The critical oil corridor used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz is transporting crude once more after claims by Yemen's Ansarallah forces that missiles and drones had crippled several pumping stations. Saudi Arabia restored operations on the East West pipeline roughly 5 to 6 days after attacks on Oct. 4 targeted facilities in Riyadh and Al Khurais, resolving a period of unstable supply reports and contradictory intelligence from regional sources.
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