SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose on Monday, paring last week’s loss, on fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East following a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which Israel and the US blamed on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Brent crude futures gained 40 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $81.53 a barrel at 8:50 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 34 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $77.50 a barrel. Last week, Brent lost 1.8 percent while WTI fell 3.7 percent on sagging Chinese demand and hopes of a Gaza ceasefire agreement.