Houthis claim attacks on two Saudi oil tankers
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said early Thursday they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, while the United States carried out a 12th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, further escalating tensions in the region.
The latest developments have raised fears of a wider conflict that could further disrupt global shipping and energy supplies, with no signs of progress in diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the overnight strikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.
and civilian vessels in regional waters as Washington seeks to restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Donald Trump warned that the US would target one Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz… the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant,” Trump wrote on social media.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a regional summit in the Philippines, said Iran had expressed interest in negotiations but questioned its willingness to honour any agreement.
“The problem is making a deal with people who don’t keep their commitments,” Rubio said.
Houthis claim tanker attacks
The Houthi-run SABA news agency said the rebels targeted the Saudi-linked oil tankers Encelia and Layla in the Red Sea, claiming both vessels caught fire.
If confirmed, the attacks would be the Houthis’ first reported strike on commercial ships since they announced a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this week.
The group said the move was in retaliation for Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa’s international airport.
Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Around 12% of global trade, including roughly one-quarter of the world’s container shipping, passes through the waterway.
A senior Houthi official said the blockade would continue until Saudi Arabia lifted its restrictions on Yemen.
Saudi Arabia’s state news agency confirmed that the tanker Encelia was attacked and caught fire while sailing in the Red Sea, but said there were no casualties. It did not mention the Layla.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile southwest of Saudi Arabia’s Al Shuqaiq area. No casualties were reported.
Rubio urged the Houthis to avoid further escalation, saying continued attacks would only worsen the situation.
Strait of Hormuz tensions continue
The US air campaign comes as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
The waterway, through which about one-fifth of globally traded oil and gas normally passes, has been severely disrupted by the conflict.
Iran says it has the right to regulate shipping through the strait and has targeted vessels using routes protected by US forces.
In response, Washington has tightened its blockade on Iranian ports and expanded military operations across Iran.
Trump also indicated this week that US forces could target an Iranian nuclear facility currently under construction.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed the US threats, saying conditions in the Strait of Hormuz would not return to how they were before the conflict.
Overnight strikes and regional concerns
Iranian state media reported that US missiles hit areas near Ahvaz, Ramshir and Andimeshk in western Iran overnight. Two people were reportedly killed in a strike near the Iraqi border town of Shalamcheh.
Iran has responded to US attacks by targeting energy facilities and desalination plants in neighbouring Gulf countries.
Kuwait’s military said its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones, while Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would respond forcefully to any further attacks.
“Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will receive a strong and decisive response,” he wrote on X.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently held talks in Pakistan, which has been trying to mediate between the parties, but there has been little indication of any diplomatic breakthrough. History
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attacks on the Saudi oil tankers.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Interior Ministry said diplomatic contacts were continuing despite the ongoing fighting.
An Arab diplomat, speaking anonymously, said Gulf countries were becoming increasingly pessimistic about the chances of reducing tensions and remained deeply concerned about the latest escalation in the region.
