India, Sept. 11 -- The war in the Middle East is putting fresh pressure on global oil markets as military tensions around the Strait of Hormuz combine with a widening confrontation between Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

Brent crude surged above $108 a barrel on Friday as traders assessed the risk of further disruptions to oil and shipping routes. The latest rise also weighed on Asian equities, with Indian shares falling amid concerns over higher energy costs.

US-Israel-Iran War Live News: IRGC Claims It Struck Saildrone-Type Vessel in Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its navy struck a US "Saildrone-type" unmanned vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, "thwarting its aggressive mission".

The claim comes as military ...