Houthi strikes on Saudi airport and oil plant spark worries over rising oil costs
Houthi militants intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia, hitting King Khalid International Airport near Riyadh and a large oil facility in Yanbu, prompting concerns about higher oil prices for consumers.
The rebel group stepped up its campaign against Saudi targets, with a recent assault on King Khalid International Airport that produced flames and black smoke. Hours earlier, Saudi officials had warned of an aerial threat. In the same wave of violence, a major oil complex in the Red Sea port of Yanbu was also struck. Analyst Christian Kopfer warned that these actions could push the "true oil price" higher, affecting household budgets.
Why it matters
Disruptions to Saudi oil facilities can lift global oil prices, impacting fuel costs for consumers worldwide.
How this story developed
- Aug 28 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey launch Mecca Defence Alliance, secretariat set in Riyadh
- Sep 11 The UN International Organisation for Migration says at least 46,000 Yemenis have been displaced since last week as clashes intensify.
- Sep 13 Pakistan reiterated that no immediate military response under the Makkah pact is being discussed.
- Sep 13 The Greek prime minister publicly called for dialogue with Turkey while maintaining a formal protest over Turkey’s maritime park claims.
- Sep 14 The displacement figure has risen to nearly 86,000.
- Sep 18 Since the earlier report of 86,000 displaced, the UN now says over 112,000 have been forced from their homes.
- Sep 18 The Ethiopian federal army says roughly 300 TPLF combatants have laid down their arms near the Tekeze river, citing discontent with the group's war preparations.
- Sep 21 Prime Minister Andy Burnham has authorized British aircraft to provide defensive air-to-air refuelling for Saudi jets fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen.
- Sep 21 Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he agreed to Saudi Arabia's request for defensive air-to-air refuelling while travelling to New York for a United Nations General Assembly meeting.
- Sep 22 Burnham announced the decision while traveling to the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 22 UN agencies warned that displacement could rise to over 230,000 if the fighting continues.
- Sep 25 Foreign minister Hakan Fidan announced willingness to meet the kingdom’s technical military needs.
- Sep 25 The UK moved from earlier talks to a formal agreement to provide the Voyager tanker.
- Sep 25 Federal forces and TPLF fighters clashed in Afar while a telecom blackout hit Tigray.
In this story
Related stories
48 in this thread