SINGAPORE, Jan 12 Reuters Oil prices rose 2 on Friday as the United States and Britain carried out air and sea strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to attacks by the Iranbacked group on shipping in the Red Sea.

The attack added to market concerns about the potential impact a broader conflict in the Middle East would have on oil supplies from the region, especially those moving through the critical Straits of Hormuz.

If a large part of Strait of Hormuz flows were to be halted, it would present up to three times the impact of the 197039;s oil price shocks and over double the impact of the Ukraine war on gas markets, atop already fragile supply chains and stock levels, Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst at MST Marquee, said.

Brent crude futures were up 1.52, or 2, at 78.93 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were 1.43 firmer, also up 2, at 73.45, at 0728 GMT.

The benchmarks rose nearly 1 on Thursday, pointing to 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 IsraelHamas war since it erupted in October. Witnesses in Yemen confirmed explosions throughout the country.

U.S. President Joe Biden said the targeted strikes were a clear message that the United States and its partners will not tolerate attacks on its personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation.

A Houthis spokesperson said the group would continue to target…