Key Takeaways
- US forces launched a new wave of strikes against Iran for the thirteenth consecutive day.
- Attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels extended the Middle East conflict to another shipping route.
- Brent crude prices surged more than six percent, reaching $100 per barrel for the first time since May.
US forces launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran for the thirteenth consecutive day early on Friday after President Donald Trump vowed 'major military punishment' for Tehran and its Houthi allies over attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea by Yemeni rebels. The Houthi rebels, who control northern and western Yemen, said they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
This development has extended the Middle East conflict to a second major shipping chokepoint, the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which controls access from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. The second most important route for energy shipments after the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf, this strait could be closed by Houthi attacks, potentially disrupting global oil supplies.
In response, US Central Command (Centcom) targeted Iranian military command centres, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities. The strikes lasted more than two hours on both Thursday and Friday, according to a statement from Centcom. In the days since they unveiled their blockade in the Red Sea, several tankers have changed course to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb, potentially using a much longer and more expensive route through the Suez Canal.
The number of tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz fell to just one on Thursday, its lowest since May 7, according to shiptracking data. This indicates the significant impact of the conflict on global shipping routes and oil prices. Brent crude rose more than six percent on Thursday, piercing the level of $100 a barrel for the first time since May.
Iranian state media reported that missiles struck Qeshm Island on the Strait of Hormuz, which is the focus of the ongoing war well into its fifth month. Four people were killed and five injured in a US missile attack on the Iranian city of Ahvaz, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. On Thursday, Iran said it attacked US missile systems, weapons and fuel storage sites in Jordan.
The conflict has escalated tensions between the United States and Iran, with both sides accusing each other of escalating the situation. The attacks on Saudi oil tankers have extended the scope of the conflict beyond the Strait of Hormuz to another critical shipping route, potentially disrupting global energy markets and causing economic disruptions.
