Oil
Trump blames Houthis for Saudi energy attacks
United States President Donald Trump has accused Houthi rebels of targeting Saudi infrastructure to raise oil prices.
Key points
- Houthi attacks hit Saudi refineries, pipelines, and Riyadh's main airport.
- President Trump claimed the actions are intended to influence upcoming US midterm elections.
- The group warned of retaliation if the US joins Saudi military campaigns.
What happened
United States President Donald Trump has accused Houthi rebels in Yemen of deliberately targeting Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure to manipulate global oil markets, according to the Washington Examiner and Reuters. Over the preceding week, the group launched attacks against Saudi refineries, pipelines, and the main airport in Riyadh.
Writing on social media, President Trump stated that the attacks were likely directed by Iran and timed to coincide with the US midterm elections. He also pointed to previous military strikes ordered against the group and indicated that further action could follow after the elections.
Why it matters
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to pose risks to international energy security and supply stability. According to US EIA data from 6 October 2026, the Brent spot price stood at 125.44 US dollars per barrel, while the WTI spot price was registered at 96.24 US dollars per barrel.
Disruptions to infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, which relies heavily on fuel exports accounting for 78.7 percent of its merchandise exports according to 2025 World Bank data, can introduce significant volatility into global petroleum markets and affect pricing for consumers worldwide.
What comes next
Houthi officials have responded to the rhetoric by warning that any direct involvement by the United States in military operations alongside Saudi Arabia will meet with a swift and painful response targeting regional interests, as reported by Agence France-Presse.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Crude benchmarks move budgets, currencies and inflation in producer and importer countries alike. For economies such as Nigeria, where fuels dominate exports, production and refining decisions move the whole economy.
9.5% of world merchandise exports were fuels in 2025Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
