Oil pushing higher as WTI edges back into highs near $66.90

• Crude is back on the rise as Syria tensions continue within the UN.
• The buildup in US oil stocks appears to be slacking off.

Crude oil is pushing back into recent highs, and WTI is currently settling near 66.75/barrel in the early Asia market.

Oil received a big push last week as Middle East tensions raised concerns for oil traders about supply capabilities if the Syria conflict were to spiral out of control. The tension broke over the weekend following a missile strike on Syrian targets in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on the Syrian city of Douma, and the pressure built up in oil released at the start of the new week following a lack of retaliation from Syria's Bashar al-Assad and his Russian backers.

Crude fell back into the 65.50 region yesterday, but have lifted back towards the 67.00 level on reported declines in US crude inventories, as well as continued chances of supply disruption as Russia and the US continue to come to loggerheads over the Syria conflict, and oil's climb is being supported by a falling back of the US Dollar heading into Wednesday.

WTI Levels to watch

Current resistance is seen at today's fresh high at 66.85, while this week's high at 67.60 is the number to beat for oil bulls to get the trend back underway, with support coming from the last swing low at 65.55 and last week's opening price near the 62.00 major handle.