Houthi Strikes Disrupt Global Energy Markets, Push Oil Prices Above $100
Yemen's Houthi rebels escalated tensions in the Middle East on September 16, 2026, by launching drone and missile strikes against Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure and military sites.
The attacks disrupted global energy markets, pushing Brent crude oil prices above $100 per barrel. US retail diesel prices reached an all-time high of over $6.30 per gallon as shipping bottlenecks intensified in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Houthi forces claimed to have targeted state-owned Aramco oil facilities in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, but Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this strike.
Saudi air defenses intercepted a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered protected airspace. Riyadh declared Mecca a 'red line' and faced a major pipeline shutdown following repeated insurgent attacks.
The disruption to Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline threatens up to 4 percent of global crude oil shipments, according to industry energy traders. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that oil flow through the pipeline should resume within days.