Saudi forces intercepted over two dozen drones on Friday after renewed Iranian threats against oil facilities, as the regional conflict killed a French soldier in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Iranian media reported fresh explosions in the capital Tehran, while Israel also came under attack, with the conflict showing no signs of slowing despite growing economic fears and the rising death toll.
Oil prices stayed above the benchmark $100 a barrel after a record release of crude reserves and the International Energy Agency warned the war could create 'the largest supply disruption' in the industry's history.
US President Donald Trump said defeating Iran's 'evil empire' was more important than crude prices, though his administration lifted some additional restrictions on Russia oil sales in a bid to ease the impact.
A French soldier was killed in an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday, adding that several other soldiers were wounded.
The conflict that began February 28 with US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has quickly spread across the region.
