Houthi missile hits Saudi Aramco’s headquarters and Iran steps up ship attacks near Hormuz; oil rises, and US inflation of 3.7 percent revives talk of a Fed rate hike
A ballistic missile hit Saudi Aramco’s headquarters complex in Dhahran, a company source told Reuters, in reports that reached Manila early on Wednesday (GMA News, Reuters, Bloomberg Television). Reuters later cited sources describing extensive damage, BusinessWorld reported a limited fire, and the Houthis vowed more attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities. Security data showed at least ten vessels attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz since Sunday, the most since the war began (GMA News); a container ship sank (Reuters, Guardian). Oil rose (Reuters, Bloomberg). US consumer prices rose 3.7 percent in September on costlier gasoline (Reuters, FT), and traders raised bets on a Fed rate hike (Bloomberg, Reuters).
Aramco is the backbone of Saudi Arabia’s economy, and the Gulf lane carries a large share of the world’s oil. Higher oil and US interest rates both reach the Philippines through fuel prices, the peso and the BSP.
Pump prices follow world oil with a lag, so a rise can show up in the weekly price adjustments. Families with relatives in Saudi Arabia or on ships should follow DMW advisories.
Trump says the Houthis are trying to push up oil prices ahead of the US midterm elections (Reuters, Middle East Eye).
An FT military briefing argues that the attacks expose limits in Saudi Arabia’s air defences despite its large arms purchases.
Treat the oil price figures from FinancialJuice as unconfirmed until a second source matches them. Watch further Houthi strikes, ship losses at Hormuz and Thursday’s US producer prices.
DailyDrop Philippines edition No. 11 · Morning · THU., OCT. 15, 2026