Sept. 8 (UPI) — Oil prices are nearing $100 per barrel on Tuesday following a wave of strikes on Saudi Arabian energy facilities, injuring more than 70 people.

Saudi Arabia has announced it has paused operations at some of its energy facilities near the Yemen border following attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis. The attacks caused fires at the facilities and injured civilians.

The attacks were carried out on Saudi Aramco facilities in the southern region by drones and ballistic missiles. Emergency responders continued to work on containing the fires on Tuesday morning.

“Several energy sector facilities and installations in the southern region of the Kingdom were targeted this morning,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Ministry of Energy.

The attacks are part of a wave of escalating tension in the war in Iran. The U.S. military launched strikes on three Iranian oil tankers over the weekend. This followed Iran launching ballistic missiles on two Navy ships.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry called the attacks by the United States on commercial vessels a “war crime.”

As fighting heats up in the Middle East, oil prices continue to climb. Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, rose above $99 per barrel on Tuesday. It is the highest mark since July.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil, the U.S. benchmark, is approaching $94 per barrel.

The exchange of fire in the Iran war has also pushed gas prices higher. AAA reports that the national average in the United States is more than $4.15 per gallon for regular grade gasoline.

Tuesday’s national average is about six cents higher than a week ago. A year ago, regular gasoline cost $3.19 per gallon on average.