TOKYO, March 13 (Reuters) - Yields of Japanese

government bonds (JGBs) rose on Friday, hit by a double blow

from higher crude oil prices and a weaker yen amid escalating

tensions in the Middle East, stoking inflation fears.

The benchmark 10-year JGB yield

rose 2.5 basis points to 2.205%, while the

five-year yield rose 2 bps to 1.645%. Yields move

inversely to bond prices.

"Rising expectations for higher crude oil prices and the

yen's weakness, against the backdrop of concerns that heightened

tensions in the Middle East will be prolonged, are likely to

weigh on the market," Kazuya Fujiwara, bond strategist in

Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, said in a note.

He added trading is expected to gradually turn directionless

after initial selling runs its course.

U.S. Treasury yields rose overnight over concerns about

resurgent inflation from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that could

keep U.S. interest rates higher for longer.

Other tenors were yet to be traded as of 0019 GMT.