Oil prices rise sharply amid Middle East tensions

(CNN)– Oil prices jumped sharply on Monday as traders worry about a potential uptick in violence in the Middle East.

U.S. crude rose 4.2% and closed at $80 a barrel.

While Brent Crude, the World Benchmark, gained 3% to close at 8, two dollars a barrel.

Analyst say traders are worried Iran will attack Israel after the recent assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.

And they are concerned a widening conflict could disrupt the flow of oil out of the biggest channel in the world.