Lead
Yemen's Houthi rebels said on Thursday they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, as the United States conducted its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets. The attacks, which the Houthis said were carried out with ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones, threaten to open a new front in the conflict between Iran and the United States that has already disrupted global energy markets.
The Houthis named the tankers as the Encelia and the Layla, saying the vessels had violated a naval blockade the group imposed on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. A Saudi news agency confirmed that one of the vessels, the Encelia, caught fire after an assault while sailing in the Red Sea, but said all crew members were safe. The attack was described as a violation of international law.
The U.S. military, meanwhile, continued its campaign of strikes against Iran, which it said were aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters. The strikes have targeted Iranian military capabilities, including maritime assets, missile and drone storage facilities, and coastal surveillance sites.
Coverage comparison
The Houthi attack and the U.S. strikes were widely reported across international media, with outlets focusing on different aspects of the escalating conflict. The BBC highlighted the risk of further escalation in the region, noting that the Houthis' actions could choke off the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. It also pointed to the broader context of U.S.-Iran tensions and concerns about a regional arms race.
Dawn, a Pakistani daily, emphasized the surge in global oil prices triggered by the attacks, reporting that Brent crude rose more than six percent on Thursday, surpassing $100 a barrel for the first time since May. The paper also quoted U.S. President Donald Trump vowing "major military punishment" for Iran and its Houthi allies.
The South China Morning Post focused on the Saudi response, reporting that Riyadh bombed the port city of Hodeidah in retaliation for a Houthi missile strike on one of its ships. It also noted Pakistan's warning that it would take necessary measures to protect its maritime interests.
The Hindu, an Indian daily, reported on Iran's vow to continue striking the region as long as it remains under attack, quoting an Iranian army spokesperson as saying retaliatory attacks would continue.
Key claims
- Houthi attack on Saudi tankers: The Houthis said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, in the Red Sea, with fires reported on both vessels. A Saudi news agency confirmed the fire on the Encelia but did not attribute it. The exact status of the Layla remained unclear.
- U.S. strikes on Iran: The United States carried out air strikes on Iranian military targets for a 12th consecutive night, according to U.S. Central Command. Iranian state media reported two people had been killed in the strikes.
- Oil prices surge: Global oil prices rose sharply in response to the attacks, with Brent crude climbing above $100 a barrel before easing slightly. The disruption to shipping in the Red Sea, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has raised fears of further supply disruptions.
- Iran's vow to continue: Iran said it would keep striking the region as long as U.S. attacks continue. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would respond in kind to any attack on its infrastructure, writing: "Our defence doctrine is clear: eye for an eye."
- U.S. threat of infrastructure strikes: President Trump warned that the U.S. would destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Perspectives
The conflict has drawn in multiple actors with differing positions:
- The Houthis say they are enforcing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in retaliation for the kingdom's blockade on Yemen and attacks on Yemeni territory. Their military spokesperson said they would continue naval operations, enforcing a "siege for a siege" equation.
- Saudi Arabia has sought to distance itself from the U.S.-Iran war but has responded militarily to Houthi attacks, bombing the port city of Hodeidah. A Saudi news agency described the attack on its tanker as a violation of international law.
- The United States says its strikes are aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels. President Trump has warned of "major military punishment" for Iran if the Houthis continue their attacks.
- Iran has said it will continue retaliatory attacks as long as U.S. strikes continue, with its military claiming to have targeted U.S. assets in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. Iranian state media reported that U.S. missiles hit the border town of Shalamcheh and the city of Bushehr.