For decades Jordan has received subsidized energy from its Arab neighbors, owing in part to its role as a buffer state with Israel. Before 2003, Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime supplied Jordan with discounted crude oil, and shortly after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Egypt began providing Amman with subsidized natural gas. With the erosion of security in Egypt following the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak in early 2011, these pipelines have come under attack, with 14 reported disruptions in as many months. Amid the pipeline attacks, Egyptian authorities decided in January 2012 to reduce Jordan's subsidies on natural gas as a result of Cairo's own economic difficulties. Due to its small economy, lack of import infrastructure and relative absence of domestic energy reserves, Jordan's heavy reliance on subsidized energy imports from its neighbors has left the kingdom in a precarious position.