Saudi Arabia has reportedly resumed operations of the East-West Pipeline, a core oil infrastructure that had been halted due to a drone attack.

As a result, crude oil exports through the Red Sea port of Yanbu are expected to normalize soon.

Reuters reported on the 22nd (local time), citing three sources familiar with the matter, that Saudi Arabia recently restarted the East-West Pipeline and that crude oil exports from Yanbu could resume as early as late today.

Two of the sources stated that the pipeline is currently transporting crude oil at a reduced speed following the restart.

Another source added that state oil giant Aramco is seeking to ramp up transport capacity to around 4 million barrels per day, though it remains uncertain when the target will be reached.

Aramco did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Previously, Saudi Arabia shut down the pipeline immediately after it was hit by a drone attack originating from Iraq on the 11th, which completely suspended crude loading operations at Yanbu port.

For Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, this pipeline serves as a critical alternative oil bypass route to circumvent the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.

As disruptions hit crude transport through the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of the Iran war, Saudi Arabia has been rerouting 4 million barrels of crude per day—accounting for about 4% of global supplies—to Yanbu port via this pipeline.