US orders some diplomats and family members to leave Saudi Arabia amid threats and Houthi attacks
The US ordered some diplomats and staff to leave Saudi Arabia amid new Houthi attacks. Oil prices rose.
Abdulrahman Sadikhli3 min read
Oil prices rose on Thursday, October 22, 2026, after the United States ordered some of its diplomats and members of their families to leave diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia. The decision was taken against the backdrop of new Houthi attacks in the region and an escalation of tensions.
Brent crude futures rose by $1.29, or 1.2%, to $110.11 a barrel as of 00:34 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 97 cents, or 1%, to $98.12. On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Brent was virtually unchanged, while WTI fell 67 cents.
Attacks and tensions
According to U.S. officials, the State Department plans to evacuate some family members of employees from several other U.S. missions in the region. Officials told Reuters about the arrangement.
On Wednesday, Houthis, backed by Iran, struck several targets. As a result of an attack on a civilian airport in Damman, at least one person was killed and eight others were injured. Two people were killed in a drone attack on an oil facility in Saudi Arabia.
Explosions were also heard on Wednesday in southern Syria. Iranian media reported the blasts, adding that the nature and cause of the explosions were unknown. According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iran is fully prepared to defend itself. President Masoud Pezeshkian told state media that the United States cannot count on dialogue while it blockades Iran and threatens it.
According to Kpler data, there have been at least 18 attacks on ships over the past two weeks. LSEG analysts warned that Iran is attacking tankers far beyond the Strait of Hormuz, including in the Gulf of Oman, which puts shipments of crude oil from Persian Gulf countries at risk.
Oil market and other news
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on Wednesday that crude oil stocks in the country fell by 3.06 million barrels, to 412.5 million barrels in the past week. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a decline of 820,000 barrels. Distillate stocks, including diesel fuel and gasoline, rose by 1.68 million barrels, to 104.3 million barrels.
The Trump administration proposed lending nearly one-third of the 1-million-barrel U.S. emergency gasoline reserve, the Energy Department said on Wednesday. As stated in the announcement, this is being done to contain prices that rose due to a shortage of diesel fuel caused by wars in Iran and Ukraine.
Also on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met in St. Petersburg with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, Putin agreed to resume negotiations with the mediation of the United States with Ukraine as early as next month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he supports the talks and hopes they will begin as soon as possible.
Source: thehindu.com
