Brent crude overtook $86 on Thursday as fears of an all-out war between Israel and Lebanon took center stage, with Iraq’s Iran-backed militias vowing to strike U.S. interests in the Middle East if Israel launches a large-scale campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Earlier this week, the leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq League of the Righteous, a powerful Iran-backed militia in Iraq on the U.S. foreign terrorist organization list, told public TV that American interests in the region will be targeted if Israel strikes. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that with Gaza operations gradually winding down, the shift will now be to Lebanon and Hezbollah, as reported by CNN. Those concerns intensified on Thursday after disappointing U.S.