Escalation in Middle East: Saudi Strikes, US Targets Tanker Near Hormuz Strait
Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on Houthi positions in the Yemeni port city of Hodeida and a nearby island on Friday, following the Iran-aligned group's announcement of a maritime blockade and attacks on Saudi vessels. The strikes targeted areas in Hodeida and the island of Kamaran, according to reports.
In response, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack on the Saudi city of Jizan, prompting emergency alerts in the province. Early Saturday, the Houthi-run Ansarollah media reported that a missile strike had caused fires in Jizan.
Separately, the United States military said on Friday it had fired on and disabled a tanker in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel attempted to evade the American blockade on Iranian ports. This is the second commercial ship disabled by the US since the blockade was reimposed earlier this month.
“We disabled the tanker after the crew attempted to run the blockade at least four times prior,” US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told AFP. “The crew was repeatedly warned, didn't comply, and US forces on scene disabled the ship after firing into its engine room. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.”
Meanwhile, a delegation from Oman arrived in Tehran for talks on the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. Oman controls the southern coastline of the strait.
The US and Iran have exchanged fire for nearly two weeks. Iran stated on Friday that it had carried out drone strikes on US military facilities in the Middle East in retaliation for 13 consecutive nights of American attacks.
US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that negotiations with Iran were continuing. “We are talking to them. I think they're being serious... by far the most serious that we've seen them, but that doesn't mean we get there,” he said.
Trump also addressed his exit strategy, saying there is a military option to “keep going just the way we are, and we can even make it a heavier dose,” or a “smarter strategy that you make a deal.” He added, “We're locked and loaded. We're ready to go.”
Growing concerns over threats to shipping in the Red Sea from Yemen's Houthis pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel earlier this week, the highest since May. However, prices dropped on Friday after two Chinese-chartered supertankers successfully passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with Brent futures falling over $4 to around $96.
The Houthis' Ansarollah media warned that Saudi targeting of civilian facilities in Hodeida and Kamaran island “constitutes a dangerous escalation,” adding that “these recent crimes will not go unanswered.” Saudi authorities did not immediately respond.
The US and UK are scheduled to hold a conference in London next week to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine attending. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also set to meet President Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
In June, the US and Iran agreed on a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding to halt military operations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to end the war within 60 days. However, President Trump declared the ceasefire “over” three weeks later after Iranian attacks on ships in the strait and US retaliatory strikes.
