Sept 9 (Reuters) - Brent crude oil futures breached $100 a barrel to hit six-week highs ​on Wednesday as intensifying conflict in the Middle East heightened concerns about oil flows, catching up to physical oil and fuel prices which ‌have passed the psychological threshold already.

Brent crude futures were up $2.77, or 2.83%, at $100.69 a barrel by 1033 GMT, after earlier touching $100.95. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up $2.18, or 2.34%, at $95.21 a barrel, its highest level since early June.

Since the Iran war began on February 28, Brent has surged as high as $126.41 a barrel, a peak reached on April 30.

"The move towards and back above $100 Brent is ​reflecting a market that increasingly has to change its view on how long the Middle East crisis will continue to curb supply from the region," said ​Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

This week, attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi energy facilities set oil installations ⁠ablaze, threatening a significant expansion of the conflict.

The attacks also threaten crude shipments via the Red Sea, which has been a key alternative route to the crucial Strait of ​Hormuz, where oil flows have been severely curtailed.

In a sharp escalation of the six-month-old war, U.S. forces hit multiple Iranian oil tankers and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Jordan ​and attacked ships.

SUPPLY RISKS MOUNT

"Market participants appear to be pricing in a more prolonged conflict in the Middle East as well as the risk that the latest escalation in military strikes disrupts oil flows from the Middle East," said Hamad Hussain, senior climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics.

"The key risk is whether the recent attacks on oil tankers lead to fewer ship-to-ship transfers taking place ​in the Gulf of Oman, which have so far played a key role in providing oil to global markets and keeping a lid on prices."

A growing number of ​banks, including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and HSBC, have raised their crude price forecasts in recent days.

Source: reuters