أسعار النفط الخام ترتفع بشدة بسبب تصاعد الأعمال العدائية في الشرق الأوسط

October WTI crude oil (CLV26) is up +3.46 (+3.72%) on Tuesday, and October RBOB gasoline (RBV26) is down -0.0419 (-1.29%).

Crude oil and gasoline prices are mixed today, with crude oil climbing to a 3.25-month high. Crude prices are soaring amid concerns that escalating attacks across the Middle East will further disrupt global oil supplies.

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Crude oil prices found support today on the latest escalation of hostilities in the Middle East. The US late Tuesday destroyed five Iranian tankers carrying crude in response to two attempts by Iran to hit US Navy ships with ballistic missiles. Iran responded by firing missiles at a US air base in Jordan and warning ships in the Persian Gulf that they would be attacked.

Crude also has support as Yemen's Houthi rebels target energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, forcing several oil facilities to halt production. Saudi Arabia's 400,000 bpd Jazan refinery, which had halted operations in July after an earlier attack, was attacked again on Tuesday with missiles and drones from Yemen's Houthi rebels. In addition, the rebels launched attacks at Saudi Aramco facilities in Abha and Najran, causing fires and injuring several people.

Vitol Group said that global oil markets are continuing to tighten, with the loss of about 2 million bpd from crude exports in the Middle East, and a further 2 million bpd from Russia as a result of Ukraine's drone attacks. Data compiled by Bloomberg, Kpler and Vortexa showed that Saudi Arabia's Aug crude exports dropped to about 3 million bpd, the lowest amount in 9 years.

President Trump recently said that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports is putting pressure on the country, and he has no timeline for resolving the US-Iran conflict.

Crude prices also have support on concerns that Israel could be dragged back into the US-Iran conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Katz said last Thursday that an Iranian attack on Israel would free Israel from any existing restrictions in a response against the regime in Iran. Israel has ramped up attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, dampening the prospects of ending hostilities in the Middle East and a quick reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, Israel has struck Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza, while the Yemen- based Houthis have attacked ships in the Red Sea.