Feb 12 Reuters Oil prices fell in early Asian trade on Monday after Israel said it had concluded a series of strikes in southern Gaza, slightly easing concerns about supply from the Middle East.

Brent crude futures were 29 cents, or 0.4 lower, at 81.90 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 28 cents, or 0.4, at 76.56 a barrel at 0746 GMT.

Geopolitical risks including a feared broadening of the IsraelPalestinian conflict across the region and potential oil supply disruption in the Middle East pushed prices up by about 6 last week.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had conducted a series of strikes on southern Gaza that have now concluded, days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a ceasefire proposal from Hamas.

Logistics disruptions in the Red sea remained front and centre of investor concerns. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations UKMTO agency said early on Monday it had received a report of a ship being attacked by two missiles south of Yemen39;s Al Mukha.

Iranaligned Houthi militants in Yemen, who control the country39;s most densely populated regions, have repeatedly dispatched drones and fired missiles at commercial ships since midNovember.

They say the attacks are a response to Israel39;s military actions in Gaza. The campaign has rocked global shipping, leading several companies to halt Red Sea journeys and opt for a longer and more expensive route around Africa.

While supply concerns in the…