Oil prices have surged due to increased tensions in the Middle East, with Brent crude reaching above $107 per barrel and US WTI crude jumping to $103 per barrel. The escalation includes missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabian infrastructure, which has disrupted a crucial oil pipeline and pushed prices higher. This development could lead to further increases in global fuel costs for consumers unless the conflict de-escalates soon.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 14, 2026, Yemen's Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia by firing dozens of missiles and drones at a military airbase in Khamis Mushait, targeting aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways, and ammunition depots. This followed an attack on Friday that knocked out the East-West pipeline, crucial for oil exports bypassing the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. The attacks wounded 13 civilians across three cities: Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif. In response, Saudi Arabia warned it would react "firmly" to protect its sovereignty. Meanwhile, Houthis seized territory in Yemen, including Perim Island at the mouth of the Red Sea, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel due to concerns over global supplies and shipping routes through volatile areas like the Bab al-Mandab strait.
Written for “Houthis Attack Saudi Arabia” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 12 other(s) covering the same event.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis fired dozens of missiles and drones at a military air base in Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia overnight.
asserted
Houthis → align → Arabia
This latest escalation follows an attack on Thursday, which knocked out the Saudis' East-West pipeline.
asserted
which → follow → pipeline
The pipeline played a crucial role in easing the world's concerns about an impending global oil shortage.
asserted
pipeline → play → shortage
For months, it had allowed oil tankers to bypass the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, a critical supply route for roughly 20 per cent of the world's oil supply.
asserted
tankers → allow → supply
The Houthis have also advanced rapidly in Yemen, capturing territory including Perim Island at the mouth of the Red Sea — a development which pushed oil prices above $US100 per barrel late last week.
And the British maritime security agency, UKMTO, reported on Sunday that another vessel had been struck by a projectile in the strait, forcing the crew to be evacuated as the ship caught on fire.
asserted
ship → advance → fire
The fighting between the Saudis and Houthis creates another problem for US President Donald Trump and other authorities trying to minimise the disruption to global oil supply.
asserted
fighting → create → supply
Saudi Arabia has led a coalition battling the Houthis since 2015, but the conflict had largely quietened under a ceasefire in the past few years.
asserted
conflict → lead → years
The fragile truce collapsed in July as Houthi strikes hit Abha Airport and the Houthis declared a naval blockade targeting Saudi-linked shipping.
asserted
Houthis → collapse → shipping
Reuters reported that Washington has so far resisted Saudi requests for direct military intervention beyond intelligence support.
asserted
Washington → report → support
More pain at the pump
All those worrying developments have pushed the global benchmark, Brent crude, above $US107 per barrel today.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also jumped to $US103 per barrel.
Tapis, which is Australia's regional benchmark crude price, is now trading at $US110 per barrel, up 46 per cent since July.
asserted
which → push → July
The price of Tapis effects the wholesale petrol price, or what service stations pay for fuel.
asserted
stations → effect → fuel
But the motoring group NRMA has told the ABC that the difference between the wholesale and retail price is currently non-existent.
asserted
difference → tell → price
This means the price of fuel at the bowser is likely to increase in coming weeks.
asserted
price → mean → weeks
The average price of unleaded petrol, according to NRMA, has risen to $2.19 per litre, while the national average for diesel has lifted to $2.68.
uncertain
average → accord → 2.68
"Unfortunately, the trajectory [for motorists] for the petrol price is up," NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said.
asserted
Khoury → say → price
Mr Khoury, however, expects the price at the bowser to fall quickly if the Middle East conflict were to de-escalate.
asserted
conflict → expect → bowser
"The closure of the East‑West pipeline in Saudi Arabia following multiple attacks has materially altered the state of the oil market," Commonwealth Bank's lead mining and energy commodities strategist, Vivek Dhar wrote in a note.
asserted
strategist → follow → note
"[It] means that instead of 40‑45 per cent of prewar flows through the Strait of Hormuz needed to keep global oil and refined product inventories unchanged, 65‑70 per cent of prewar flows are now required.
asserted
cent → mean → flows
"The sizable shift almost single-handedly reflects the closure of the East‑West pipeline.
asserted
shift → reflect → pipeline
"
World running out of oil
Analysts now say the world is weeks away from returning to critically low levels of oil supply.
asserted
world → run → supply
"Our low estimate that global markets had five to 11 weeks of global oil and refined product stockpiles is growing in likelihood," Mr Dhar said.
asserted
Dhar → grow → likelihood
"This compares with our base case of 15‑20 weeks — where flows through the Strait of Hormuz were 30 per cent of prewar levels and global oil markets had the benefit of pipeline bypasses, subdued Chinese imports and rising non‑OPEC+ supply outside the Middle East."
asserted
markets → compare → East
He wrote that: "If inventory depletion is reached, we estimate that Brent oil futures may need to rise to [around] $US150 per barrel to force uncontrolled demand destruction (i.e. where high prices force lower demand) for emerging Asian economies."
uncertain
prices → write → economies
In July 2008, Brent crude surged as high as $US147 per barrel.
"
asserted
crude → surge → barrel
This price level is derived from the last time that emerging Asian economies saw uncontrolled demand destruction in 2008.
asserted
economies → derive → 2008
"With nonlinear rises in both oil and refined products now a real possibility, Iran has maximised its leverage against the US.
asserted
Iran → maximise → US
This will likely make it harder for Mr Trump to extract the United States out of its war with Iran, in a way that does not sound like defeat or capitulation.
asserted
that → make → defeat
Until then, the rest of the world is bearing the brunt of more expensive oil prices and higher cost of living.
asserted
rest → bear → living
The Aporia
