Yemen’s Houthi movement said Thursday that it attacked three Saudi oil facilities, while Saudi authorities reported intercepting missiles and crude prices rose Friday as traders considered the risk of supply disruptions.
The group said it targeted the Ras Tanura refinery, an Aramco facility in Abqaiq, and the Rabigh refinery, but its claims had not been independently verified. It also claimed strikes on airports in Riyadh and Dammam and a Saudi military headquarters in the Najran region. Separately, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a cruise missile aimed at the kingdom’s western region and two ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh.
Saudi Civil Defence said debris from an interception in the capital wounded one person. Reporting available Friday did not independently establish whether the three oil sites were hit. It also did not establish whether operations at the sites were affected.
At 0122 GMT, Brent crude was up 86 cents, or 0.75%, at $115.74 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained 72 cents, or 0.71%, to $102.72 a barrel. Both benchmarks were on course for a fourth straight monthly gain.
Brent was headed for an increase of nearly 14% in October. WTI was headed for a rise of about 15%. The attacks added to market concerns about worsening tensions in the region and threats to oil supply routes, including around the Strait of Hormuz.