Harris and Trump are targeting key battleground states with large Arab American and Jewish populations, as the conflict's impact shapes their campaigns and could influence the outcome of the election.

The crisis in the Middle East is looming over the race for the White House as the campaign enters its final weeks

With just over two weeks before the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are hitting the campaign trail in strategic battleground states

Tuesday closed up +1.53 (+2.17%), and Nov RBOB gasoline (RBX24) closed up +5.68 (+2.82%). Crude and gasoline prices posted 1-week highs on Tuesday and settled moderately higher for a second day. Heightened Middle East tensions underpin crude prices due to concern that the escalation of hostilities could disrupt Middle Eastern crude supplies.

The low-boil conflict between Israel and Iran has shaped the Middle East for decades. Of the many conflicts that have roiled the region, theirs has long been among the most explosive. The two have attacked each other — mostly quietly and in Iran’s case often by proxy — while avoiding an escalation into direct war.

A year after the brutal Hamas attack on Israel – and after months of tit-for-tat missile attacks between Israel and Iran – Israel has commenced a ground invasion of Lebanon which pits the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) directly against Iranian proxy Hezbollah.