U.S. crude oil prices broke above $87 a barrel on Friday as futures rallied on reports that Israel was preparing for a direct attack on Iran this weekend, which Israel and Hamas agreed to last October. After the start of the war, the Middle East will see the greatest increase in tension. .

gave West Texas Intermediate The contract for May delivery rose $2.32, or 2.73%, to $87.34 a barrel. Jun Brent Futures added $2.13, or 2.37%, to $91.86 a barrel. Exxon Mobile The stock hit an intraday high of $123.74 as oil’s rally lifted the energy sector.

A person familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that Israel is preparing for a direct attack by Iran on either southern or northern Israel on Friday or Saturday. A person briefed by Iran’s leadership told the Journal that no final decision had yet been made, although plans for a strike were being discussed.

People familiar with Western intelligence assessments told Bloomberg news that a drone and missile attack against Israel by Iran or its proxies could occur within the next 48 hours.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Thursday banned government employees and their families from personal travel outside of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva “out of an abundance of caution” until further notice.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to punish Israel for last week’s missile attack on the Islamic Republic’s consulate in the Syrian city of Damascus that killed seven Iranian military personnel. Oil prices rose after the consulate attack, although futures fell slightly this week as inflation data and US crude stockpiles weighed on the market.

Israel has warned Iran that if Tehran attacks Israel, it will retaliate against the Islamic Republic.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that if Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will retaliate and attack Iran. Social Media Platform X Wednesday, tagging Ayatollah Khamenei.

According to Bob McNeely, president of Rapidan Energy and a former top energy official in the Bush administration, Brent crude oil futures could rise to $100 a barrel if Iran were to attack Israel directly. McNeely told CNBC that if the increase leads to a bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade route for oil, prices could rise to $120 or $130 a barrel.