Oil prices rose by more than four percent in afternoon trading in the United States. The increase came after a coalition led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen announced that it had intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthi forces on Thursday.

A Houthi military spokesman said in a statement that the group fired dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at military positions of Saudi Arabia in Jazan.

Separately, Saudi civil defense also issued an emergency alert in Mecca about a possible danger.

The Brent crude oil futures contract rose 4.7 percent to $107.95 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures also increased by 4.8 percent to $96.56 per barrel.