Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, amid a 12th consecutive night of US airstrikes against Iran.
Iranian state media reported Wednesday that two people were killed in a U.S. airstrike and that an oil tanker exploded and caught fire in a mine lane in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ahead of this airstrike, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iranian bridges or power plants if Iran attacks ships in the strait and to “take care of” Houthi rebels if Iran blocks the Red Sea.
If confirmed, the attack would be the first since the Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a “maritime embargo” on Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis named the tankers Encelia and Layla, but their responsibility or the attack on Layla has not been confirmed.
The group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said it had targeted ships with drones and missiles for allegedly violating a naval blockade.
Saree added that the Houthis pledged to continue naval operations and “will continue to implement the ‘siege’ equation.”
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that an “unknown projectile” struck a Saudi oil tanker. At 20:00 GMT, approximately 130 km from Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia. They said the attack caused a fire but caused no casualties.
Vanguard, a British maritime risk management group, also reported that the Saudi oil tanker Encelia was hit.
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said it launched the strike at President Trump’s direction at 21:30 GMT “to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian sailors and merchant ships transiting regional waters.”
It said the strikes targeted Iranian military targets, including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and air defense assets.
Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain reported responses to the aerial threat soon after, before announcing that Iranian forces had targeted U.S. assets in all three countries, according to AFP.
Iranian state media reported that two people were killed in a U.S. airstrike in the southern region near the Iraqi border.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the Strait of Hormuz was “completely closed” due to an explosion, Iranian state media reported.
The IRGC said it had blocked three oil tankers from transiting the strait.
According to Iranian state media, one tanker caught fire and two others turned back while trying to pass through a mine path south of the strait.
This comes after President Trump pledged earlier Wednesday to attack Iranian bridges or power plants if Iranian forces attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later warned that attacks on Iran would be responded to with “an eye for an eye.”
On Tuesday, Trump told reporters he would take care of the Houthis if they interfered with the Red Sea as they said they would.
There were few details about the ‘maritime embargo’ announced by the Houthis on Monday, but one media source said the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea, would be closed to Saudi ships.
