The Islamic Republic sent operatives illegally into Iraq to attack Saudi Arabia’s oil lifeline on September 10, an Iraqi investigation finds.
— The Iran Watcher (@TheIranWatcher) September 28, 2026
The cell crossed from Iran, launched more than 15 explosive drones from Iraq’s Maysan province, then slipped back into Iran.… pic.twitter.com/DRlfA04qM6
The Islamic Republic sent operatives illegally into Iraq to attack Saudi Arabia’s oil lifeline on September 10, an Iraqi investigation finds.
The cell crossed from Iran, launched more than 15 explosive drones from Iraq’s Maysan province, then slipped back into Iran. Investigators linked it to the Revolutionary Guard and the Houthis.
The strike injured people, damaged Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline and forced it to shut down the following day.
The pipeline had been carrying roughly 4 million barrels a day, about 4% of global oil supply, around the disrupted Strait of Hormuz. The attack halted exports through Yanbu and helped push oil briefly toward $110 a barrel. The line restarted on September 22, but full flow could take weeks to restore.
Iraq dismissed security commanders, closed border crossings and sent Iran the identities and routes uncovered by its investigation. Iran has given no answer.
The Islamic Republic treats Saudi Arabia as a major regional enemy. It talks of diplomacy while using networks in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen to threaten it from both directions. The Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Saudi cities, airports and oil facilities. That rhetoric is a smokescreen for a sustained campaign against Saudi Arabia.
The September 10 strike hit the escape route Saudi Arabia needed most. It damaged Saudi exports, exposed Iraq’s border failures and showed how far the Islamic Republic will go to make other countries pay for finding a way around Hormuz.
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