Houthi Missile Attacks Send Oil Prices Soaring Amid Escalating Conflict
The Houthi group in Yemen has launched a series of ballistic missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities, causing significant damage and pushing Brent crude prices to their highest level in six weeks. The attacks, which targeted Aramco facilities in Abha and Jizan, also left 73 wounded. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry vowed to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and demanded a halt to the Houthi strikes.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that the operation was 'precise and direct' and caused extensive damage to the targeted facilities. He also accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out 121 airstrikes in Yemen over the past three days, prompting the Houthi retaliation. The Saudi-led coalition described the attacks as a 'dangerous escalation' and vowed to take necessary operational measures.
The conflict between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces has reignited after a four-year truce collapsed in July. The war has also led to a significant increase in oil prices, with diesel prices hitting record highs and nearly doubling since the start of the US-Iran conflict.