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Oil edges lower after rallying to greatest in over a month on Middle East war threat

Oil prices edged lower in early Asian trading hours on Tuesday as traders reserved revenues after prices rallied to their highest in over a month on Monday amidst worries that the Middle East might be on the verge of a regionwide war.

Fighting in the Middle East intensified after Iran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel's third-largest city, Haifa, and Israel looked poised to expand its offensive into Lebanon, a. year after the Hamas attack on Israel that stimulated the Israel's. continuous war in Gaza.

Brent unrefined futures fell 23 cents, or 0.3%, to $80.70 per. barrel by 0029 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures fell 20. cents, or 0.3%, to $76.94 a barrel.

Both agreements rose over 3% on Monday to hit their greatest. levels because late-August, adding to last week's rally that saw. them rise by over 8% for the greatest weekly gains in over a. year.

The rally started after Iran released a rocket barrage on. Israel on Oct. 1. Israel has testified retaliate and is weighing. its choices, with Iran's oil centers considered a possible. target.

However, some experts believe that an attack on Iranian oil. infrastructure is not likely and have actually warned that oil costs could. face considerable downward pressure if Israel focuses on any. other target.

Even if an attack targets Iranian oil centers, there is 7. million barrels per day of spare supply capability within the. Company of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to comprise. for the loss of its oil output, ANZ Bank experts noted on. Friday.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Milton magnified into a Classification 5. storm on its way to Florida after forcing at least one oil and. gas platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico to shut on Monday.

U.S. crude oil inventories are expected to rise by 1.9. million barrels in the week ended Oct. 4, according to a. preliminary Reuters poll. The American Petroleum Institute is. due to publish its tally of U.S. stockpiles at 2030 GMT on Tuesday,. followed by the official tally from the Energy Details. Administration at 1430 GMT on Wednesday.

(source: Reuters)