Crude oil prices fell on Monday as traders monitored the potential recovery of Saudi oil shipments following missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces on Saturday. JPMorgan analysts said in a September 18 note that Middle East oil flows remained “surprisingly strong” despite disruption to Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, while US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper said oil and liquefied natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz over the past two weeks had reached their highest level in six months, seemingly shaking supply fears off. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for October’s settlements slumped by 2.05% at 12:55 am ET to $98.24 per barrel. Simultaneously, Brent for November’s deliveries decreased by 2.04% to $101.75 per barrel.