The United States military carried out the 13th round of strikes on Thursday targeting critical military and commercial locations in Iran amidst escalating tensions over shipping routes. This action followed the Yemen-based Iran-supported Houthi rebels’ reported attack on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, potentially widening the conflict as global oil prices surged above $100 per barrel. Shortly after the announcement of these new strikes, Iranian state media documented explosions in Bandar Abbas, a crucial port city for military and trade operations, where two individuals were reportedly injured.
Explosions were also noted on Qeshm Island, housing naval assets like drone boats that Iran could deploy to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in locations near Andimeshk, Omidiyeh, and Firuzabad. Iranian state media confirmed four deaths and five injuries in a U.S. missile strike on the outskirts of Ahvaz along the Karun River. The U.S. Central Command stated that the recent offensive aimed to further weaken Iran’s ability to threaten civilian and commercial ships navigating regional waters, particularly targeting the strategic Strait of Hormuz through which a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas transits during peacetime. The strikes concluded before 5 a.m. local time on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels threatened to disrupt another vital trade route, adding pressure to the already strained global economy due to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing clashes between Iran and the U.S. for control over the strait have prompted a search for alternative shipping paths. President Donald Trump warned of severe military consequences against the Houthis if their attacks on ships persist.
As tensions heightened, so did the economic repercussions. The price of Brent crude oil surged over six percent to approximately $100 per barrel, marking its highest level since May, following the breakdown of a previous peace agreement between the two sides. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, advocating for peace and dialogue, assured that Iraqi territory would not be used for assaults on Iran during his visit to Tehran. Al-Zaidi had met with President Trump in Washington earlier this month.
The Houthi-run SABA news agency reported the rebel attacks on two tankers, the Encelia and Layla, in the Red Sea, resulting in fires on both vessels without any casualties reported. This incident marked the first Houthi assault on a ship since announcing a blockade on Saudi-related shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier in retaliation for Saudi actions in Yemen. Bab el-Mandeb, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, facilitates a significant portion of global trade movement, including a quarter of global container traffic.
Saudi Arabia’s state-run news agency confirmed an attack setting the Encelia ablaze in the Red Sea overnight. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre received a report of a tanker being hit by an unidentified projectile southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia. The Houthi assaults pose a threat to oil shipments from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port on the Red Sea, compounding disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global trade flows.
The U.S. initiated a broadened campaign of strikes across Iran in response to the attacks, reinstating a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The U.S. Central Command reported redirecting several commercial vessels and disabling one since the blockade resumed. The verbal sparring intensified as Iranian officials vowed retaliation for U.S. strikes on their infrastructure, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized escalating consequences until a resolution is reached.
Iran reported 55 fatalities and 629 injuries since the renewed U.S. airstrikes began on June 27. In response, Iran targeted energy infrastructure and desalination plants in neighboring Gulf countries, affecting water supplies. President Trump announced that Iranian funds under U.S. sanctions would cover damages to ships, emphasizing the need for fair compensation in the conflict.