Algeria has forcefully denounced the drone strike against Saudi Arabia aimed at the East-West pipeline across the Riyadh and Medina areas, criticizing a blatant breach of the Kingdom’s sovereignty while reiterating its complete alignment with Riyadh. This was outlined on Saturday in an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs.
Algiers conveyed its “stern condemnation and profound disapproval” regarding this strike directed at the “brotherly Kingdom” of Saudi Arabia. Algeria views this aggression as “a clear infringement on the Kingdom’s sovereignty”, alongside a threat targeting its security and stability. It further frames the act as an assault against its financial resources and economic networks.
In this context, Algiers reaffirmed “Algeria’s absolute solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia encountering this offensive”, while backing any steps Riyadh might implement to safeguard its safety, stability, and territorial cohesion.
Algeria restates its dedication toward respecting state sovereignty and declares its backing for Saudi Arabia facing this assault directed at its soil and critical facilities.
This stance emerges following Saudi Arabia’s report that uncrewed aircraft launched from Iraq struck the East-West pipeline, forcing its shutdown, whereas Baghdad welcomed Riyadh’s choice to refrain from retaliatory actions.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced late Thursday “the targeting of the East-West oil line within the Riyadh and Medina territories by multiple drones originating from Iraq, inflicting injuries and destruction”. “The pipeline operation was halted as a safety precaution, and the strikes resulted in numerous casualties,” an Energy Ministry official previously told the SPA press agency.
“Following the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister… (Riyadh) selected not to retaliate currently and to back the Iraqi government’s actions… to prevent assaults launched from Iraq against the Kingdom and adjacent nations,” stated the Foreign Ministry.
It stressed, however, that Saudi Arabia “retains every right to execute necessary actions to defend its sovereignty, protection, installations” alongside its residents. Saudi Arabia mentioned that the strikes occurring Thursday morning caused multiple casualties.
Iraq praised Saudi Arabia’s stance to avoid launching a counterstrike. It condemned every assault jeopardizing Saudi security, adding that its Prime Minister mandated an immediate inquiry to uncover the perpetrators, according to an armed forces release.
Since the onset of American military strikes targeting Iran, Riyadh escalated its reliance on this pipeline—stretching from Abqaiq near the Gulf toward Yanbu port along the Red Sea—to circumvent Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.