Oil prices were higher today buoyed by hostilities in the Red Sea. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis will escalate their attacks on ships in the Red Sea and other waters and have introduced “submarine weapons,” the group’s leader said on Thursday, as it keeps up attacks on shipping. On Thursday, the premium for front-month WTI crude futures to the second month was up to 75 cents per barrel. That spread has widened in recent sessions, and on Tuesday touched $1.95 per barrel ahead of the March contract’s expiry. Market players are likely pricing in a potential disruption to supply in the near future, with the front-month contract’s premium over the second widening, which “indicates a tightening market,” UBS analyst, Giovanni Staunovo said in a note. Crude gains were capped on Thursday by a build in U.S. oil inventories due to refinery maintenance and outages. WTI traded up $.70 or .9% to close at $78.61. Brent traded up $.64 or .77% to close at $83.67.