Saudi Oil Pipeline Hit? NASA Spots Massive Smoke Plume

Satellite images show a large plume of smoke near Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, a key route for crude oil exports. NASA recorded thermal anomalies in the area. Researchers say the smoke comes from emergency flaring—the controlled burning of gas, usually triggered by a safety issue or operational problem. The East-West pipeline carries crude oil across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea, away from the Persian Gulf. It is a vital backup route for the country's oil exports. There is no official word yet on what caused the flaring or whether the pipeline was damaged.