War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Two Chinese very large crude carriers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are heading toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait to exit the Red Sea, shipping data showed, even as a Saudi vessel came under attack in the region, Reuters reports.

The US military said that it had completed “another round of strikes against Iran for the 12th consecutive night”.

“US forces struck Iranian military targets including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets. The strikes further degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels,” the US Central Command (Centcom) said.

“This month, American forces have targeted dozens of Iranian military sites on land while resuming a blockade against Iran at sea. As of today, Centcom has redirected nine commercial vessels and disabled one to prevent ships from entering or departing Iranian ports,” it said.

A vessel belonging to a Saudi company was hit while transiting the Red Sea, Saudi state media reported citing an official source, after Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed it struck tankers in the waterway, AFP reports.

The source, quoted by state-run Saudi Press Agency, said “the vessel ENCELIA, belonging to a Saudi company, was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea, resulting in a fire at the bow of the ship” but that all crew members were safe.

The US Department of State has issued a worldwide caution, urging Americans to avoid travel to the Middle East due to “the potential for unforeseen escalation”.

“Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex, with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the official announcement warned.

It also urged Americans currently in the Middle East to exercise caution, remain highly vigilant, and be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions.

The alert noted that some airlines in the region had already postponed the resumption of previously suspended flight schedules, while others had cancelled certain routes.

Yemen’s Houthis said they had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers, and maritime security reports said one of the vessels named by the group, the Saudi-flagged tanker Encelia, had been hit in the Red Sea, Reuters reports.

The Houthis identified the two tankers as “ENCELIA” and “LAYLA”, saying the vessels had violated a naval blockade imposed by the Iran-aligned group on Saudi Arabia. The Houthis said they targeted the tankers with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles.

A maritime security source said Encelia had transmitted a distress call via VHF, reporting it had been struck by a missile while operating at the outer port limits of Saudi Arabia’s Jizan, in the Red Sea, and was on fire.

Oil prices rose more than 1.5 per cent to their highest in more than six weeks, with the United States launching a new round of strikes on Iran and Yemen’s Houthis targeting oil tankers in the Red Sea, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures rose $1.93, or 2 per cent to $96 by 0011 GMT, the highest since June 8. It had settled over $3 higher at $94.07 in the previous session, just shy of a six-week high.

US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.44, or 1.7pc, to $88.27 after rising nearly 3pc on Wednesday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say that one of three oil tankers had caught fire after an explosion while attempting to pass through what they described as a mined route south of the Strait of Hormuz, and that the two other tankers had turned back, according to Reuters.

The Guards say the Strait of Hormuz was under their control and “completely closed” while US actions continued in the region, warning that no tanker would be allowed to enter or leave without coordination with Iran.

The statement gave no vessel names or timing for the incident.

A government official says that Iraq lost more than $40 billion in revenue since the start of the Middle East war, mostly due to a sharp decline in its oil exports, AFP reports.

Before the war, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, Iraq produced around four million barrels per day, and exported an average of 3.5 million bpd, mostly via Hormuz.

“For Iraq, due to a 90 per cent drop in its oil exports … in addition to the decline in growth rates … the estimated loss was between $40 and $45bn up to June 2026,” Muzhar Saleh, financial adviser to Iraq’s prime minister, outlines.

Revenue losses could reach $50bn as the war and the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz continue, Saleh adds.

Another government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirms that Iraq’s losses are “nearing $50bn”, mostly due to the drop in oil exports.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that any aggression against his country and its infrastructure will “compel a powerful and decisive response”, adding that Tehran’s defence doctrine is “eye for an eye”.

“Those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered as legitimate targets,” he warns in a posr on X.

According to Iran’s Fars news agency, Majid Mousavi, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Aerospace Force, has issued a warning to the US: “Should our bridges and power plants be attacked, power outages are guaranteed for the allies and hosts of the child-killers.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has said that the entry and exit points of the Strait of Hormuz are “clearly defined and under our absolute control”, according to a statement carried by Iran’s Fars news agency.

“Alternative routes are unsafe and dangerous; we warn against their use, as doing so would entail severe and irreversible consequences,” the statement concludes.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held wide-ranging discussions on strengthening Pakistan-Egypt bilateral relations with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty.

The two top diplomats met on the sidelines of the Asean Regional Forum in Manila, in the Philippines, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

“Reviewing developments in the Middle East, both sides underscored the importance of de-escalation and dialogue while emphasising respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states,” the FO says in a post on X.

“They also discussed the broader implications of regional instability, particularly for global maritime trade, energy security, and the world economy.”

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has stated that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions, adding that if Iran is barred from selling oil in the region, then “no one will sell oil”.

“The equation of this war is clear: either all or none!” he writes on X. “In a region where we do not sell oil, no one will sell oil. If our security is not ensured, no infrastructure will be safe, and the security of the strait is in the absence of American forces.”

Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in southern Lebanon hit by Israeli bombardment in recent months, has been added to the Unesco list of world heritage sites in danger.

“The site has been directly hit and has sustained damage. Furthermore, its state of conservation is a cause for growing concern, particularly given the possibility of further impacts,” the organisation said.

“Optimal conditions are no longer in place to ensure the conservation and protection of the property’s outstanding universal value,” the UN body says, adding that it was the Lebanese government that requested its inclusion on the list.

Tyre, 83 kilometres south of Beirut but barely 20 kilometres from the Israeli border, was placed on the Unesco heritage list in 1984 and contains mainly Roman-era archaeological remains.

The coastal city has been caught up in recent months in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and most of its inhabitants have fled after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders covering districts, including some archaeological areas.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, has delivered a statement regarding the latest Iranian strikes across the region, Al Jazeera reports.

“Any aggression on maritime passages reflects on global energy security,” he says. “Iran continues its attacks on GCC countries and other states in violation of the principles of international law.”

The GCC chief demands that the UN Security Council and international community put an end to the Iranian aggression, adding that Tehran’s targeting of shipping and threatens freedom of navigation and the protection of civilians.

“We condemn the hostile statements of the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia and its threat to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait,” Albudaiwi adds.

US Central Command (Centcom) says it has redirected nine commercial vessels and disabled another since a naval blockade was reimposed on Iranian ports.

Yemen’s Houthis have been recorded sending radio warnings to ships, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) tells AFP, after the rebels announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia.

“We can confirm that the Houthis were recorded transmitting a warning message to ships in the region,” the ICS says.

The White House and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office are discussing a potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week, Anadolu reports citing Axios.

The proposed Oval Office session will follow Netanyahu’s reported failure to secure an appointment last week, according to the news outlet. The Israeli leader is scheduled to travel to Washington to attend funeral services for Senator Lindsey Graham.

A meeting, however, has not yet been arranged between the leaders, a White House official and Israeli source tell Axios.

Iran’s armed forces have continued to expand their missile arsenal since the war began, despite intensifying US attacks, Al Jazeera reports citing a spokesman.

Abolfazl Shekarchi says the military has manufactured missiles and attack drones throughout all phases of the US-Israel conflict, including when the memorandum of understanding took effect, state-run Press TV reports.

“Missiles are moving directly from production to operational use while replenishing our stockpiles,” Shekarchi states, adding that the US has been unable to locate Iran’s various missile production sites despite its extensive intelligence operations.

At least 53 people have been killed in US strikes on Iran since June 27, including three children, Al Jazeera reports citing the country’s health ministry.

The ministry says over 590 others have been wounded in US attacks since the fighting flared and the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding collapsed.