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Oil Prices Are Spiking — Here's What It Means for Your Gas Tank and Grocery Bill

  Published July 17, 2026 Crude oil is trading near one-month highs this week, and if you've filled up your tank recently, you've probably already felt it. The culprit: an escalating conflict in the Middle East that's disrupting one of the world's most important oil shipping routes — and it's starting to show up at Canadian pumps and, eventually, on grocery store shelves. What's happening with oil prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the North American benchmark, has been trading around the $79–$80 per barrel range this week — up roughly 5% over the past month. Brent crude, the global benchmark that matters more for what Canadians pay at the pump, has been hovering near $85 per barrel, also near a one-month high. The spike traces back to renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and has intensified strikes, while Iran has responded with attacks on U.S. bases and threats to disrupt regional energy shipments further. ...

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Israeli Airstrike Eliminates Senior Hezbollah Commander in Southern Lebanon

 

In a significant escalation of hostilities, an Israeli airstrike has killed a high-ranking commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces, according to security sources. The commander, identified as Habib Maatouk, was targeted in southern Lebanon on Thursday.

Maatouk had recently assumed his position following the death of his predecessor, Ali Ahmed Hassin, who was also killed in an Israeli strike earlier this year. The latest attack is part of ongoing tit-for-tat violence between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since October 2023 when Hezbollah declared a “support front” with Palestinians following a major Hamas attack on southern Israel.

The airstrike hit the border villages of Safad El Batikh and Jmaijmeh, resulting in multiple casualties. Eighteen wounded individuals were taken to Tebnin government hospital, with two reported in critical condition. The conflict has led to significant destruction in Lebanese border towns, reminiscent of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

This incident underscores the fragile and volatile nature of the region, with both sides continuing to engage in aggressive military actions. The international community remains concerned about the potential for further escalation and the humanitarian impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.


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