NPR. This is the indicator from Planet Money, I'm Darren Woods.

And I'm Patty Hirsch.

Tensions in the Middle East continue to ratchet higher.

As the conflict in Israel and Gaza rages, other regional and international actors are beginning to get involved.

The militant group Hezbollah has fired missiles into Israel from Lebanon, while Hothi rebels

from Yemen have attacked ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Those attacks in turn have provoked a military response, including strikes on the mainland

of Yemen from both the US and the UK.

And this week Iran launched a ballistic missile strike into Northern Iraq, saying it was aimed

at Israelis who it claims were involved in a suicide bombing in Iran recently. All of this activity is making a lot of people worry about

escalation, an increase in tension and hostilities that could end up encompassing the entire region.

So on today's show, we'll consider what escalation could mean for the

region's most important export, oil, and what shortages could mean for the

global economy. That's coming up after the break.

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Support for this podcast and the following message

come from Wise, the account that helps you manage your money

all around the world.

You want your money to move fast, especially across borders.

...