Houthis claim attack on oil tankers after US launches more strikes on Iran

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Houthis claim attack on oil tankers after US launches more strikes on Iran Image source, ReutersImage caption, The Iranian-backed Houthis say they have closed the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping waterway and the gateway to the Red SeaByOttilie MitchellPublished15 minutes agoYemen's Houthis say they have attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea after the US launched its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran. Iranian state media said two people had been killed in the US strikes on Wednesday, and a tanker caught fire in an explosion in a mined route in the Strait of Hormuz. Ahead of the latest round of strikes, US President Donald Trump had threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant if Iran attacked a ship in the strait and to "take care of" the Houthis if they blocked the Red Sea.

If confirmed, the Houthi attack would be the first since the Iran-backed group announced a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis named the tankers as the Encelia and the Layla, though neither their responsibility, nor the attack on the Layla has been confirmed. The group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said they had targeted the ships with drones and missiles for allegedly violating its naval blockade.

The Details

Saree added that the Houthis promised to continue their naval operations and would continue "enforcing the 'siege for a siege' equation". UK Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO) reported an "unknown projectile" struck a Saudi tanker about 130km from Al Shuqaiq in Saudi Arabia at 20:00 GMT. The attack caused a fire but no casualties, it said.

British maritime risk management group Vanguard also reported that the Saudi tanker Encelia had been hit, according to news agency . US Central Command (Centcom) said at 21:30 GMT it had launched strikes at Trump's direction "to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters". Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain soon reported responding to airborne threats, before Iran's military said they had targeted US assets in all three countries, according to .

Iranian state media reported two people had been killed in US strikes on the country's south near its border with Iraq border. Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) said the Strait of Hormuz was "completely closed" after an explosion in the channel, reported. The IRGC said it had stopped three oil tankers from passing through the strait.

What Experts Say

One tanker caught fire and two others turned back after attempting to pass through a mined route south of the Strait, according to Iranian state media. It comes after Trump promised earlier on Wednesday to attack an Iranian bridge or power plant if its forces hit ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later warned of an "eye for an eye" response to attacks on Iran.

On Tuesday, Trump told reporters he would "take care of the Houthis" should they obstruct the Red Sea as they had said.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.