ALBAWABA - Brent crude increased by over 4 percent, hitting $81 per barrel in afternoon trade in Asia on Tuesday amid intensive attacks in the Middle East. Around 0800 GMT, Brent was trading up 4.41 percent at $81.17 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate was up 3.99 percent at $74.07 per barrel, AFP reported Tuesday. Nonetheless, European gas prices also recorded an increase of another 30 percent on Iran.