Oil prices jump after US orders diplomats to leave Middle East

Oil prices rose on Thursday after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia prompted Washington to order some diplomats and their family members to leave US missions in the kingdom, Reuters reported.

Brent crude futures rose by $1.29, or 1.2 per cent, to $110.11 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 97 cents, or 1 per cent, to $98.12 a barrel.

Brent crude closed little changed on Wednesday, while WTI fell by 67 cents.

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Earlier on Wednesday, the US State Department ordered non-essential staff at its embassy in Riyadh and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, which has faced near-daily attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement. 

A diplomatic source said Washington had also issued similar orders for family members of staff at US embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain.

US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said: “Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.”    

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