Overview
- Houthis said they fired missiles and drones at two Saudi tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, and Saudi and maritime monitors reported the Encelia was struck and ablaze.
- U.S. forces carried out another night of strikes, marking the 13th consecutive night of operations as CENTCOM targeted Iranian coastal, missile, surveillance and maritime sites to degrade threats to commercial shipping.
- President Donald Trump vowed “major military punishment” and threatened to destroy Iranian bridges or power plants for further attacks on ships while saying the U.S. would hold Iran responsible for Houthi actions.
- The strikes and Red Sea attacks pushed Brent crude above $100, forced tankers to reroute via the Suez or around Africa, and prompted sharp rises in insurance and shipping costs for the southern Red Sea.
- The crisis now contests both major chokepoints that carry a large share of seaborne oil, raises the prospect of wider regional war, and has prompted regional mediators and international leaders to press for de‑escalation.