US Military Escalates Strikes Against Iran Amid Shipping Route Tensions
The US military launched its 13th night of strikes against Iran on Thursday, targeting key military and commercial sites as clashes escalate over shipping routes. The attacks came after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, potentially widening the conflict.
International oil prices surged to $100 a barrel, a level not seen since May, as tensions continue to rise. President Donald Trump threatened 'major military punishment' against the Houthis if their attacks on ships persist, saying the US would hold Iran responsible for the actions of its proxies.
The conflict has disrupted global trade, with the Houthi threat putting at risk oil shipments from Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port on the Red Sea. The US Central Command said the latest barrage was designed to 'further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters.'