Iran strikes tankers under US escort in Hormuz strait as Trump gathers cabinet to discuss war

The US military launched strikes on Iranian targets in response to Iran's attack on American forces in Jordan. These strikes, which hit Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp facilities including command centers and missile sites, occurred after a period of reduced violence and followed President Trump's vow to retaliate forcefully. The US also partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq, resulting in casualties. Additionally, drone strikes hit natural gas vessels at an Egyptian port, with responsibility unclear. These escalations, occurring on multiple fronts, raise concerns about a widening regional conflict and the difficulty of de-escalating the ongoing crisis.

Saudi Arabia is seeking to form an international coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen's Houthis. This initiative comes as Houthi strikes on energy tankers have expanded, contributing to rising oil prices and impacting the global economic outlook. The Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in July, accusing the kingdom of plundering Yemeni resources and imposing a siege. In response, Saudi Arabia has conducted air strikes on Houthi military facilities in Yemen's Hodeidah port, which it claims are used to threaten commercial shipping. The composition of the potential coalition is still being finalized and is under discussion with numerous countries.

Jordan's air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran on Thursday morning, according to Jordan's state-run Petra news agency. This occurred hours after the U.S. military reported completing a significant wave of strikes against Iran in retaliation for an earlier Iranian missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. No casualties were reported in Jordan from the missile interception. The U.S. Central Command stated their strikes targeted dozens of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps sites, including command centers and missile facilities. Iran's state media reported casualties from strikes on Qeshm island. These events follow joint U.S.-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq and separate drone strikes that caused fires on two natural gas vessels in Egypt.

Saudi Arabia and thirteen other nations have formed the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance to enhance collective maritime defense cooperation and secure vital waterways. Announced on Thursday, the alliance aims to protect freedom of navigation, international trade, and energy supply routes through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. This initiative comes amid escalating hostilities, particularly attacks by Iran-backed Houthi fighters on this strategic corridor. The alliance's activities will include intelligence sharing, operational planning, and joint exercises, with its nature described as purely defensive. The participating states view maritime security as a shared responsibility to confront transnational threats.

The US military conducted "heavy" strikes against Iran on Wednesday in retaliation for attempted Iranian ballistic missile attacks on American forces. Centcom stated these strikes targeted "dozens" of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in response to Iran firing missiles at US bases in Jordan and ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. These actions follow recent US-Saudi strikes on Iranian proxies in Iraq and come after a period of relative calm during which talks for a diplomatic solution were reportedly underway, though Iran denied discussions were happening. All Iranian missiles fired on Tuesday were intercepted.

The US military reported that Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on US forces in the Middle East late on Tuesday. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted, and US forces remain vigilant. This attack occurred after a brief lull in fighting, which followed nearly two weeks of US strikes on Iran and Iranian strikes on US allies. Mediators were attempting to bring both sides back to negotiations for a ceasefire. The target of the missile attack was reportedly a US base in Jordan. This escalation comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group claims to have fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker, the NCC GHAZAL, in the Red Sea. This incident follows the Houthis' declaration of a naval blockade on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, which they imposed over a week prior. The Houthi military spokesman stated the tanker was targeted for violating the imposed maritime navigation ban. The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed a tanker reported an explosion in the Red Sea, with the crew safe and no environmental damage. The Houthis previously claimed attacks on two other Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and Layla, for violating the blockade. The Houthis stated their blockade is a response to Saudi Arabia's nearly 12-year "siege" on Yemen.

Saudi Arabia reported shooting down drones launched from Iraq for a second consecutive day, which it attributed to Iran-affiliated militias. Concurrently, Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have forced a Saudi oil tanker to change course as part of their declared blockade of the kingdom. These incidents occurred despite a recent lull in direct confrontations between the U.S. and Iran. The Saudi Defense Ministry stated the drones targeted petroleum facilities in the eastern region. Iraq's Prime Minister ordered an investigation into the Saudi claims, while Iraqi militias denied involvement. The Houthis also claimed to have targeted a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, an incident that a UK maritime authority confirmed involved a tanker hearing explosions, though the vessel and crew were safe.

Jordan's air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran early Wednesday, with the Jordanian military confirming they were destroyed. This occurred shortly after the U.S. military announced it had downed an Iranian missile barrage targeting American forces in the Middle East, ending a brief lull in hostilities. U.S. Central Command stated that all Iranian missiles aimed at U.S. forces were intercepted. In conjunction with Saudi Arabia, U.S. forces also struck sites in Iraq used by Iran-backed militias for launching attacks. The U.S. warned that further aggression against American troops or Saudi energy infrastructure would prompt additional action.

Saudi Arabia reported shooting down drones for a second consecutive day, stating they were launched from Iraq by Iran-affiliated militias and targeted petroleum facilities in the eastern region. Concurrently, Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have compelled a Saudi oil tanker to alter its course as part of their blockade against the kingdom. These incidents highlight ongoing tensions, occurring despite a recent lull in attacks between the United States and Iran following weeks of escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. The Saudi Defence Ministry confirmed the interception and destruction of the drones.

US and Saudi forces have launched attacks on Iran-aligned groups in Iraq. This action is in retaliation for what the US describes as "30 IRGC-directed" drone attacks over the past 30 days, which included strikes on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities. The US also accused Iran of firing multiple ballistic missiles in an attempted surprise attack on its forces at a base in Jordan. These developments occur as Saudi Arabia reports intercepting drones and Iran warns of taking "any action" to maintain its control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia faces a dilemma regarding its involvement in the escalating regional conflict between the US and Iran. While the US and Saudi Arabia recently conducted strikes against Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces, Saudi Arabia is attempting to avoid a full-scale war. This cautious approach is driven by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's "Vision 2030" initiative, which aims to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil, attract foreign investment, and develop domestic industries. These ambitious economic goals, including the construction of vulnerable infrastructure like data centers, are jeopardized by regional instability. Iran's ongoing drone and missile attacks on countries like Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, alongside targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, contribute to the widening conflict, further complicating Saudi Arabia's strategic choices.