Oil prices rose in early Asian trading on Thursday, extending strong gains in the previous session after the killing of a Hamas leader in Iran raised the threat of a wider Middle East conflict and on signs of strong oil demand in the U.S.

Oil prices rose in early Asian trading on Thursday, extending strong gains in the previous session after the killing of a Hamas leader in Iran raised the threat of a wider Middle East conflict and on signs of strong oil demand in the U.S.

Global benchmark Brent crude futures rose 67 cents, or 0.8%, to $81.51 per barrel by 0007 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 69 cents, or 0.9%, to $78.60 per barrel.

The most active contracts on both benchmarks jumped about 4% in the previous session.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after Lebanon-based Hezbollah's most senior military commander was killed in an Israeli strike in the capital, Beirut.

The killings fueled concern that the 10-month-old war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas was turning into a wider Middle East war, which could potentially lead to disruptions in oil supply from the region.

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