حوثيو اليمن يدعون هجمات على ناقلات في البحر الأحمر مع إطلاق الولايات المتحدة الليلة الثانية عشرة من الضربات على إيران

23m ago 03.05 CEST The Houthis’ claim to have hit two Saudi oil tankers as part of the naval blockade on Saudi Arabia elevates the threat of a second chokehold on global oil supplies at the Red Sea in coordination with Iran’s attempt to control the strait of Hormuz. The Iran-aligned militants, who control areas near the Bab el-Mandeb strait on the opposite end of the Arabian Peninsula from the Hormuz strait, said on Monday they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in what some analysts have ⁠viewed as a tactical move by Iran to seek leverage in any diplomatic efforts to end the war. But even before the renewed threats to shipping traffic in the Red Sea, Iran’s blockade of the strait of Hormuz had pushed up oil and petrol prices and stoked inflation around the world. Five tankers changed course in the Red Sea to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Wednesday, and three tankers loaded with Saudi oil for China and India made U-turns on Tuesday, as Reuters reports. Then the Yemen-based Houthis ​said their forces carried out missile and drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red ‌Sea. View image in fullscreen Boats near Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb coast in a file shot. Photograph: Reuters Millions of barrels a day of Saudi oil have been heading to the kingdom’s Red Sea port of Yanbu to avoid the strait of Hormuz. If shipments cannot pass through the Red Sea’s southern strait, they have only the northern route through the Suez Canal, adding weeks to the journey and significantly raising costs. Share Updated at 03.25 CEST

55m ago 02.32 CEST Two killed in US strike at Iran border crossing – report Two people have been killed in a US strike at the Shalamcheh border crossing in south-western Iran, the country’s Students News Network is reporting, citing a security offical. A little earlier Iran’s Mehr news agency was cited as quoting a provincial security official saying a US missile attack near a passenger terminal at the Shalamcheh crossing with Iraq had caused no casualties. The reports come as the US continues what Central Command said were more strikes against Iranian military targets, beginning from 5.30pm ET Wednesday (9.30pm GMT). Share Updated at 02.41 CEST

2h ago 01.55 CEST Iran warns 'eye for an eye' response to US Before the US launched its 12th night of strikes against Iran, the Islamic republic’s foreign minister warned: “Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye.” Abbas Araghchi also said in the post on X several hours ago: double quotation mark Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response. Those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered as legitimate targets. Share Updated at 02.38 CEST

2h ago 01.35 CEST More on Yemen’s Houthis claiming strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea: The master of one tanker reported being struck by an unknown projectile about 70 nautical miles south-west of Al Shuqaiq, causing a fire that the crew was fighting, the British naval security monitor UKMTO said. The Iran-aligned Houthis warned shipping companies on Wednesday that their tankers risk being attacked if they used Saudi Arabian ports, as the militia enforced a blockade it announced the previous day. The Houthi warning for the Red Sea – coming on top of Iran’s threat to shipping on the other side of the Arabian peninsular in the Gulf – could affect the substantial Saudi oil exports that have so far been unscathed by the months-long conflict and deepen the rapidly escalating crisis in the region, as Peter Beaumont has written. View image in fullscreen Armed students participate in a rally supporting the Houthi-imposed naval embargo against Saudi Arabia in Sana’a, Yemen, on Wednesday. Photograph: Yahya Arhab/EPA Donald Trump said he would “take care of” the Houthis if they followed through on their blockade threat against Saudi ports. The Houthis have been broadcasting radio warnings to vessels, the International Chamber of Shipping told Agence France-Presse. The message warned that “in case of non-compliance of Yemeni armed forces decision, those ships will be in our target”. Share Updated at 01.45 CEST

2h ago 01.09 CEST Kuwait’s air defences are responding to hostile drone threats amid “Iranian aggression”, the Kuwaiti army is saying. Any explosion sounds heard were the result of attacks being intercepted, it said on social media. Iran has continued to strike at countries around the region hosting American forces in response to ongoing US attacks. Share