Yemen’s Houthi movement claims to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, coinciding with the United States’ 12th consecutive night of air strikes targeting Iran.
According to Iranian state media, two individuals were killed in the Wednesday U.S. strikes, and a tanker ignited after an explosion on a mined route in the Strait of Hormuz.
Prior to the latest round of strikes, President Donald Trump warned that the United States would destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant should Iran attack a vessel in the strait, and indicated that the Houthis would be dealt with if they obstructed the Red Sea.
Should the Houthi assault be verified, it would mark the first attack since the Iran‑aligned group declared a maritime embargo targeting Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis identified the vessels as the Encelia and the Layla, although responsibility for the attack on the Layla has not been confirmed.
Group military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the ships were struck with drones and missiles, alleging violations of the group’s naval blockade.
Saree further said the Houthis pledged to persist with their naval operations and to continue enforcing the “siege for a siege” principle.
UK Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO) reported that an unidentified projectile struck a Saudi tanker approximately 130 km from Al‑Shuqaiq at 20:00 GMT, igniting a fire but causing no casualties.
British maritime risk‑management firm Vanguard also reported that the Saudi tanker Encelia had been hit.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced at 21:30 GMT that it had conducted strikes, at President Trump’s direction, aimed at further degrading Iran’s capacity to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters.
The strikes hit Iranian military assets, including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage sites, coastal surveillance installations, and air‑defense systems, the command said.
Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain quickly reported countering airborne threats, after which Iran’s military claimed to have targeted U.S. assets in those three nations, according to AFP.
Iranian state media reported two fatalities from U.S. strikes in southern Iran, near the border with Iraq.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) announced that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely closed” following an explosion in the channel, according to Iranian state media.
The IRGC said it had halted three oil tankers from transiting the strait.
One tanker caught fire while two others turned back after attempting to navigate a mined route south of the strait, Iranian state media reported.
This follows Trump’s earlier Wednesday promise to strike an Iranian bridge or power plant if Iranian forces target ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later warned that Iran would respond with an “eye for an eye” measure to attacks on the country.
On Tuesday, Trump told reporters he would “take care of” the Houthis if they obstruct the Red Sea, as they have declared.
Although the Houthis provided few details about the “maritime embargo” announced on Monday, a media official said they were closing the Bab al‑Mandab Strait — the Red Sea’s southern gateway — to Saudi vessels.
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