Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi movement has claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, while the United States carried out another night of strikes on Iran, BBC News reported.
Saudi state media confirmed that the tanker Encelia was hit late on Wednesday, causing a fire at the bow of the vessel. It cited an official source at the Saudi Transport General Authority as saying all crew members were safe and describing the incident as a breach of international laws and conventions.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the group targeted the Saudi-flagged Encelia and Layla with missiles and drones, claiming the vessels had breached a Houthi blockade of Saudi ports. There has so far been no confirmation of an attack on the Layla, according to the BBC report.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said an unknown projectile struck a tanker about 130km south-west of al-Shuqaiq on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. It said the strike caused a fire but no casualties.
US President Donald Trump warned the Houthis on Thursday that any repeat attack would bring “major military punishment” against both the group and Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Houthis appeared to have been drawn in by Iran and said he hoped they would de-escalate.
US Central Command said it had launched further strikes on Iranian military targets at Mr Trump’s direction, including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and air defence assets. Iranian state media said two people were killed in a US missile strike on the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq.
Iran’s armed forces said they had targeted US military facilities in Kuwait and Jordan in response. Both countries said they intercepted Iranian missiles and drones overnight.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also warned the UK that any base used to attack Iran would be considered a legitimate target, following reports that US B-1 bombers used in overnight strikes had flown from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The UK government said its armed forces were ready to protect the country from attacks at home or abroad.
Oil prices rose sharply after the latest developments, with Brent crude reaching $100 a barrel, its highest level since the end of May, BBC News reported.
