Note: This article was originally published in Nikkei Asian Review on 19 September 2019. ERIA's Senior Policy Fellow for Energy and Environment, Prof Jun Arima, is the author.

On September 14, drone attacks -- claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels -- hit the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil production facilities. These attacks took out 5.7 million barrels per day, which is half of Saudi production and 5% of global oil production, and sent benchmark oil prices up a fifth to almost $72. (Read the full article by using the link above).