Pakistan, July 23 -- Oil prices climbed to their highest level in more than six weeks on Thursday as escalating Middle East tensions heightened concerns over global energy supplies. Rising risks to key shipping routes supported gains in both Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate futures.

Brent crude futures rose $2.20, or 2.3%, to $96.27 a barrel after advancing more than $3 in the previous session. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.65, or 1.9%, to $88.48 during Asian trading.

Read more: Oil tops $87 amid US-Iran tensions

Market sentiment strengthened after Yemen's Houthis claimed attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea. At the same time, the United States carried out another round of military strikes on Iran, in...