Official confirmation has arrived from Riyadh that attacks have been carried out, but it was not specified who launched them. They also warned that the continuation of such strikes could lead to disruptions in supply, further destabilize the market, and slow down the global economic recovery.
According to official data from the Ministry of Energy, about "700,000 barrels per day" were destroyed, or approximately ten percent of the country's total exports.
"These attacks included a pumping station on the vital East-West oil pipeline, resulting in a loss of approximately 700,000 barrels per day of pumped volume through the pipeline, which is the main route for supplying global markets during this period," it was stated.
The announcement notes that among the targets was a pumping station on this strategic oil pipeline, which directly led to a reduction in the amount of oil being transported to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea.
This route gained additional significance after Iran took control of the Strait of Hormuz, thereby restricting maritime traffic through one of the world's most important oil arteries.
The damage is not limited only to transport capacities. Saudi authorities confirmed that large oil fields and processing facilities were also attacked, including Manifa and Khurais, where production was reduced by an additional 600,000 barrels per day.
Simultaneously, key industrial centers such as Jubail, Ras Tanura, Yanbu, and Riyadh were also hit, which had a direct impact on the export of refined products.
Confirmation of the attack followed after the European Space Agency released footage on April 8 showing large clouds of thick black smoke above Saudi Aramco facilities in Abqaiq.