DOMINANT ANGLE
Doha condemns "in the strongest terms" the targeting of the East-West pipeline and welcomes the restraint shown by Riyadh towards Baghdad, placing the crisis on the diplomatic rather than military terrain.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
The ministry of foreign affairs condemned "in the strongest terms" the targeting of the East-West pipeline, describing the attack as a "reprehensible act" and a "flagrant violation of international law".
- 02
It welcomed "the responsible approach adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" not to retaliate immediately, giving Iraq time to prevent new attacks.
- 03
Kuwait, Oman, and Egypt issued nearly identical condemnations in the same hours, forming a regional diplomatic front in support of Riyadh.
ANALYSIS
Doha, September 13, 2026. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned "in the strongest terms" the targeting of the East-West Saudi oil pipeline, which was hit in the Riyadh and Medina regions by several drones launched from Iraq, an attack that left wounded and caused material damage. In a statement relayed by Gulf Times, Qatari diplomacy describes the operation as a "reprehensible act" and a "flagrant violation of international law", seeing it as "a dangerous escalation that could undermine the security and stability of the region".
The Doha text focuses less on the origin of the attack — which Baghdad confirmed on Saturday as coming from its own territory — than on the measured response from Riyadh. Doha "welcomes the responsible approach adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", which chose not to retaliate immediately to give the Iraqi government "the opportunity to take the necessary measures to prevent attacks from being launched from Iraqi territory against the Kingdom and neighboring countries". Qatar affirms its "full solidarity" with Riyadh and its support for "all measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its sovereignty, security, and facilities".
This reading is part of a broader regional front: Kuwait, Oman, and Egypt have published almost identical condemnations in the same hours, an alignment that, from Doha's perspective, is seen as a consolidation of the Gulf bloc around Riyadh rather than a direct confrontation with Tehran. The 1,200-kilometer pipeline, which carries between 4 and 5% of the world's crude oil supply while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, remains closed after the fire caused by the drones on Friday night. Washington, through the voice of Donald Trump, has deemed Iran "probably" responsible — an accusation that the Qatari statement does not repeat, instead attributing territorial responsibility to Baghdad and welcoming the diplomatic path chosen by Riyadh.
