The United States ordered the departure of non-essential government employees and their families from Saudi Arabia, citing escalating Houthi attacks against civilian targets. Washington and Israel have drawn up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the midterm elections, including a short but intensive operation targeting energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone arsenals. Donald Trump has not yet approved the strikes and has repeatedly vetoed plans for a return to major combat this year. A strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed at least one person and injured eight, while two people died in a drone attack on Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field without disrupting operations. Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have recovered to near pre-war levels, but Brent crude has topped $110 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate has reached $98.12 as recovering Chinese import demand could support prices.
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