US Targets Iranian Tanker Amid Escalating Tensions in Hormuz Strait

Saudi Arabia and Houthi forces exchanged fire on Saturday, as the US military attacked an Iranian tanker in the Hormuz Strait.

The Houthi's Ansarollah media claimed a missile attack had caused fires in the Saudi city of Jizan, while Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts for the province. This retaliation came after Saudi Arabia launched air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday.

The US military said it had disabled an Iranian tanker ship that was attempting to evade the American blockade on Iranian ports. The vessel attempted to run the blockade at least four times before being disabled, Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said. 'The crew was repeatedly warned, didn't comply, and US forces on scene disabled the ship after firing into its engine room,' he added.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping lane, and tensions have been escalating in recent weeks. The price of crude oil rose to over $100 a barrel earlier this week due to concerns over new threats to shipping in the Red Sea from Yemen's Houthis.