MIDEAST STOCKS — Gulf stocks fall after Houthis threaten more Saudi attacks

Oct 15 (Reuters) — Major Gulf markets buckled in early trade on Thursday as the Houthis threatened more attacks on Saudi Arabia, putting the country's benchmark index on track for a sixth weekly loss. The Saudi index dropped 0.6%, pulled down by a 0.6% fall in oil behemoth Saudi Aramco. On Wednesday, Yemen's Houthis pledged to keep attacking airports and oil facilities in the kingdom. The threat came a day after a Houthi strike caused extensive damage to Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran, where a fire spread across several floors, three people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Brent crude futures fell $2.28, or 2.2%, to $103.78 a barrel by 0729 GMT. O/R Shipping risks are also growing. A container ship and a dry bulk carrier sank near the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours after projectiles hit them in separate incidents, maritime officials said on Wednesday. Qatar's index led losses in regional stocks, falling 1.2% to its lowest level in more than six years. Dubai's main index lost 0.7% as toll operator Salik slid 1.7%. Abu Dhabi's index slipped 0.4%. On Thursday, the International Monetary Fund warned a long war in the Middle East, and further disruption to energy pr