Oil prices rose more than 4% on June 8 as fighting intensified between Israel and Iran and Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon, lifting crude benchmarks in early trading.

Brent crude futures were up $4.02, or 4.3%, at $97.11 a barrel by 0914 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained $3.90, or 4.3%, to $94.44. Separate reports also cited intraday moves with Brent up $4.60 to $97.69 and U.S. benchmark crude up $4.13 to $94.67.

Market attention focused on risks to energy flows tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and natural gas shipments, amid reports that Iran has maintained control measures affecting passage.

Israeli officials said a strike in Beirut targeted a Hezbollah command center in Dahieh.