Oil prices eases as Saudi supply recovery offsets Houthi attacks, US-Iran tensions

Oil prices fell on Monday as investors focused on signs of a recovery in Saudi Arabian crude shipments, even as attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis added to tensions in the Middle East and the US and Iran remained locked in a stalemate.Brent crude futures fell 81 cents, or 0.78%, to $103.06 a barrel at 0031 GMT, after settling 0.91% lower on Friday.US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 89 cents, or 0.89%, at $99.41 a barrel, following a 1.58% decline in the previous session.The decline came despite fresh attacks claimed by the Houthis. The group said it had targeted "sensitive" sites in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh with missiles and drones on Saturday, as well as an Aramco facility in Yanbu, a key oil export hub on the Red Sea.Houthi attacks on Saudi Aramco's East-West pipeline have disrupted some shipments through Yanbu.