FE
Oil prices rose more than 2% on Friday as the United States and Britain carried out strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen in retaliation for attacks by the Iran-backed group on shipping in the Red Sea starting from late last year.
Brent crude futures were up $1.53, or 2%, at $78.94 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were trading $1.53, or 2.1% higher, at $73.55 at 0337 GMT. The benchmarks were adding to gains of nearly 1% from the day before, ensuring prices were on track for a second straight weekly rise.
The U.S. and British strikes are one of the most dramatic demonstrations to date of the widening of the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East since its eruption in October. Witnesses in Yemen confirmed explosions throughout the country.
