Oil prices edged higher on Monday after the United States vowed to keep attacking Yemen's Houthis until the Iran-aligned group ends its assaults on shipping while Chinese economic data fuelled hopes for higher demand.

Oil futures climbed on Monday, finding support after the U.S. over the weekend launched U.S. strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, raising the risk of disruptions to oil flow in the region.

Oil prices on the New York fuel exchange are rising in response to data from China and U.S. strikes on Houthi positions, brokers report. Analysts at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. are already lowering their oil forecasts for the Brent benchmark due to numerous unfavourable factors affecting commodity prices.

President Donald Trump announced he ordered the U.S. military to launch "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis in Yemen.

The Iranian-backed rebels, who have targeted Israel and shipping in the Red Sea, said children were among those killed in the strikes ordered by President Trump.

Yemen's Houthi rebels say there have been fresh US strikes against them, with the number of dead rising to 53, including five children. Targets in the Al Jaouf and Hudaydah areas were hit early on Monday, according to the rebel group, while the US Central Command said its forces had continued operations.