Houthi Attacks Fail to Prompt US Airstrikes as Oil Prices Surge

Houthi militants fired on Saudi oil installations in two ports on the Red Sea coast, but the US held back from launching air strikes on Iran for the first time in two weeks.

The attacks, which targeted sites belonging to Saudi state oil giant Aramco in Jizan and Yanbu, were intercepted by a US-made Patriot battery operated in Saudi Arabia by the Greek military under an agreement with Riyadh.

Aramco's refinery in Jizan was reportedly damaged, and two Asia-based trading sources said that they had been informed of potential damage to fuel and oil storage sites at Jizan.

The lull in Gulf fighting comes after a series of US attacks on Iran, which began with an interim deal to end hostilities collapsing. The US gave no immediate explanation for halting the streak of 13 nights of escalating strikes in retaliation for Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.