US Bombs Iran as Houthis Hit Saudi Oil Tankers

At least two people died and 11 others were hurt in the latest US attacks on Iran.

The US attack on Tehran went on Wednesday night for the 12th straight night.

One of the strikes hit the Shalamcheh border crossing between southern Iran and Iraq.

CENTCOM, in a statement on Thursday morning, said the attack weakened Iran's ability to target mariners and commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The command said it has "redirected nine commercial vessels and disabled one to stop ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports."

Iran reported that it set fire to a tanker trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission. It also launched counterattacks aimed at American interests in Kuwait after the US bombed its cities.

US President Donald Trump has said that the attacks would keep happening as he warned of more strikes on Iranian civilian sites.

He stated that US forces would hit an Iranian bridge or power plant each time Iranian forces attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. In reply, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Iran would respond strongly to any aggression.

In a post on X, he wrote, "Our defence doctrine is clear: eye for an eye. Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response."

The attacks in the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices up to $96 a barrel, the highest since June 8.

Meanwhile, the conflict seems to be getting worse, with rising tensions between Yemen's Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian-backed rebel group has taken responsibility for attacking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said on Wednesday, "We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla, for their violation of the blockade decision issued by the armed forces."

The group had previously declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in response to an attack on its airport that blocked a plane carrying a Houthi delegation from Iran.

Al Jazeera, citing Saudi state media, reported that a government official confirmed the attack on Encelia.

The report stated that the Houthis launched ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, setting the ships on fire in the Red Sea.

It remains unclear how the Saudis will react to the Houthi attacks.

On Wednesday, the US and Saudi Arabia also signed a "peaceful nuclear cooperation" agreement that allows the kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear programme.