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Oil falls by more than $1/bbl as Israel authorities look for to prevent wider Middle East war

Oil rates fell by more than $1 a barrel on Monday after Israeli officials said they wanted to prevent dragging the Middle East into an allout war while reacting to a deadly rocket strike in the Israelioccupied Golan Heights over the weekend.

Brent futures for September delivery shed $1.39 to $ 79.74 a barrel, a 1.7% loss, by 11:17 a.m. EDT (1517 GMT). U.S. unrefined sank $1.40 to $75.76 per barrel, a 1.8 percent drop.

2 Israeli officials informed on Monday that Israel wanted to injure the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which the nation blames for the Saturday attack that eliminated 12 children and teenagers, without triggering a region-wide conflict.

That implies that a Gaza ceasefire may not be too far off in the future, stated Bob Yawger, energy futures director at Mizuho in New York City.

On Sunday, Israel's security cabinet licensed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's federal government to decide on the manner and timing of a response to the attack at a football field.

Israel swore retaliation in Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah, which rejected obligation for the attack. Israeli jets struck targets in southern Lebanon on Sunday.

The tensions stimulated financier concerns about the potential effect on crude output from the world's largest oil-producing region, but up until now output has not been affected.

Regardless of renewed geopolitical stress in the Middle East, the absence of any supply disturbances limits any favorable price response, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Oil need issues, driven by weak Chinese economic data, is another aspect not helping oil prices at present.

Brent and WTI criteria lost 1.8% and 3.7% respectively recently on sagging Chinese demand and hopes of a Gaza ceasefire contract.

Data released this month revealed that China's total fuel oil imports dropped 11% in the very first half of 2024, raising issues about the larger need outlook worldwide's most significant crude importer.

Costs also fell at the end of recently on news that the substantial Dangote oil refinery in Nigeria is reselling freights of U.S. and Nigerian crude after technical issues at the plant.

On the other hand, markets are keeping a watch on oil producer Venezuela after the nation's electoral authority stated that President Nicolas Maduro had won a 3rd term with 51% of the vote regardless of numerous exit surveys indicating an opposition win.

The U.S. had previously said it would calibrate its sanctions policy towards Venezuela depending upon how the election unfolds in the OPEC member nation.

(source: Reuters)