MIDEAST STOCKS-Most Gulf markets ease on fears of broader Iran conflict

March 29 (Reuters) - Most Gulf stock markets slipped in early Sunday trading as fears of a broader Iran-linked conflict weighed on investor sentiment after Yemen's Houthis launched their first attacks on Israel since the conflict began and the U.S. deployed additional forces to the Middle East.

The Washington Post reported on Saturday that U.S. officials said the Pentagon was making preparations for a potential multi-week ground operation in Iran, though it remained uncertain whether President Donald Trump would authorize the deployment of ground forces.

The Qatari index .QSI lost 1.1% as Qatar National Bank QNBK.QA, the Gulf's biggest lender by assets, declined by 1.3% while the Kuwait bourse .BKP eased by 0.4% and the Bahrain market .BAX dipped by 0.1%.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI bucked the trend with a 0.4% gain, helped by a 0.4% rise for Al Rajhi Bank 1120.SE and a 0.6% advance for oil major Saudi Aramco 2222.SE.

Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, which circumvents the Strait of Hormuz, is pumping oil at full capacity of 7 million barrels per day, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 rose by $4.56, or 4.2%, to $112.57 a barrel on Friday, reflecting scepticism over prospects for a ceasefire in the month-old Iran war. O/R