The development follows reports since 0600 UTC on Oct. 8 of intense flaring exceeding 60 MW at the Abqaiq refinery and the East-West pipeline pumping station. A 2019 attack on the same site removed roughly 5 million BPD of production, accounting for about 5% of the global oil supply and nearly half of the kingdom's output. Some market analysts suggest the unrest could shift the oil baseline toward $100 a barrel.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Story
Houthis Strike World's Largest Oil Processing Plant at Abqaiq
Commodities12 days ago
Crude oil prices surged more than 5% after reports emerged that Yemen's Houthi rebels launched missile strikes on a major energy hub in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. Satellite imagery from NASA FIRMS and Zoom Earth shows large columns of smoke and high-intensity thermal hits at Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq crude oil processing and stabilization facility, though the attacks remain unconfirmed by Saudi officials.
Looking for more context or analysis?
Tilt chat provides reliable, tailored insights, alerts, and automations.