US, allies working to address Saudi oil attacks: Esper

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. military will address the weekend attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday.

"The United States military, with our interagency team, is working with our partners to address this unprecedented attack and defend the international rules-based order that is being undermined by Iran," Esper said on Twitter.

Esper said he joined a meeting at the White House and Pentagon leaders and other officials briefed President Donald Trump on the situation.

He also said he spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Iraqi Defense Minister Najah al-Shammari over the weekend about the attack.

On Sunday, Trump tweeted that the U.S. was "locked and loaded" after the attacks Saturday on two of Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco’s oil facilities.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the U.S. was quick to deny that claim.

On Twitter, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said "there is no evidence the attacks came from Yemen," accusing Iran of launching "an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply."

Iran, however, has denied any role.

A senior official from the Trump administration told ABC News that Tehran launched a dozen cruise missiles and more than 20 drones from its territory.

The incident prompted a spike in the price of Brent crude, with prices rising early Monday by nearly 10%.