Brent crude prices jumped sharply in late trading as reports emerged of US military strikes on multiple locations in Iran, including the strategic island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf.
The attacks, which also targeted the coastal towns of Shadegan, Sirik, and Hajiabad, mark a significant intensification of hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
Those strikes were part of a broader surge in violence that has already resulted in the deaths of two US personnel in Jordan, with another soldier reported missing in action.
The escalation comes against a backdrop of rapidly deteriorating security in the region.
US Central Command recently confirmed that Iran launched two ballistic missiles targeting American forces stationed in Kuwait.
Those strikes were part of a broader surge in violence that has already resulted in the deaths of two US personnel in Jordan, with another soldier reported missing in action.
For energy markets, the direct targeting of infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz raises immediate concerns about shipping disruptions.