Brent crude tops $113 as Saudi, Libya supply risks mount

Brent crude futures rose to $113.82 a barrel on Friday, extending gains after a 4% surge to a five-month high, driven by supply disruption fears from Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and a Libyan pipeline outage. Saudi Aramco evacuated its Dhahran headquarters as fighting with Yemen-based Houthi forces intensified, raising concerns about Saudi oil infrastructure and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb shipping chokepoint. A valve shutdown on a Libyan pipeline also reduced output at the Hamada and Tahara oilfields. Brent was on track for a third consecutive weekly gain. Russia signaled readiness to resume US-mediated talks with Ukraine next month, though uncertainty over the conflict and sanctions on Russian energy continues to pose supply risks.