Story perspectives

Houthi siege cuts Taiz-Aden road, driving prices higher

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 11:02 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Trump alleges price manipulation

Houthi fighters have encircled Yemen’s city of Taiz, intensified bombardment, and cut the main road to Aden on October 13, 2026.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the Houthis are deliberately trying to raise oil prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
The International Organization for Migration reported a small bottle of water now costs up to $4.
Houthis captured the town of Mudiriyat al-Misrakh, 25 km south of Taiz.

Left

Supply hoarding accusations

Houthi fighters have encircled Yemen’s city of Taiz, intensifying bombardment and cutting off the main road to Aden on October 13, 2026.
The siege has spiked food, fuel and medicine prices, prompting accusations that traders hoard essential supplies.
Wheat and flour prices rose, with vegetable and fruit costs doubling since the encirclement.
Fuel prices jumped from 30,000 to 90,000 riyals per 20-litre container after the road closure.

Blindspot

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the Houthis are deliberately attempting to drive up oil prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 Arab oil embargo, launched in October 1973, forced OPEC members to cut output, causing a four-fold surge in global oil prices. U.S. President Richard Nixon authorized emergency gasoline rationing, while Saudi Arabia received $2 billion in compensation for lost revenue. Today's Houthi siege of Taiz mirrors that crisis, as the group blocks the Aden-Taiz highway, inflating water to $4 and fuel to 90,000 riyals per container. The precedent shows that supply disruptions can weaponize commodity markets, prompting international bodies like the United Nations and IOM to demand humanitarian corridors.

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Trump alleges price manipulation

Houthi fighters have encircled Yemen’s city of Taiz, intensified bombardment, and cut the main road to Aden on October 13, 2026.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the Houthis are deliberately trying to raise oil prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
The International Organization for Migration reported a small bottle of water now costs up to $4.
Houthis captured the town of Mudiriyat al-Misrakh, 25 km south of Taiz.

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