Oil prices increased on Monday after the attacks on oil plants in Saudi Arabia. It was the biggest rise in a decade. Prices shot up by nearly 20 per cent - the biggest one-day rise since the 1990-91 Gulf War. Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister said the drone attack on Saudi's Abqaiq oil plant cut the country's oil production in half, and global oil production by five per cent. It could take weeks to repair the damage. During this time, we could pay higher gasoline prices, especially in Asia. People may also have to pay higher prices for food and other goods.
Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for the attacks. The group said they were because of Saudi attacks on rebel groups in Yemen. Iran's President supported the Houthi claim. He said the attack was self defense. He said: "Yemeni people are exercising their legitimate right of defense. The attack was a...response to years of Saudi aggression against Yemen." Arab countries say there is evidence that the weapons used in the attack were made by Iran. U.S. officials suggest the attacks came from either Iraq or Iran and not Yemen. Iranian officials called this "maximum lies".