{"id":219434,"date":"2026-07-23T08:41:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T08:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/219434\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T08:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T08:41:13","slug":"yemens-houthis-hit-tankers-in-red-sea-as-us-strikes-iran-for-12th-consecutive-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/219434\/","title":{"rendered":"Yemen\u2019s Houthis hit tankers in Red Sea as US strikes Iran for 12th consecutive night"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Iran-backed Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers on Thursday that they accused of violating a naval blockade imposed by the group, signaling a potential new front in the US-Iran conflict, as the US military struck Iran for the 12th successive night.<\/p>\n

The attack came after the Houthis said on Monday that they were imposing a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, a move that could significantly widen the war and strain the US military.<\/p>\n

Yemen\u2019s Houthis said they targeted two Saudi oil tankers, identified as Encelia and Laylia, saying the vessels violated their naval blockade.<\/p>\n

The Encelia was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea, causing a fire at the front of the ship, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, citing an official source at the General Transport Authority.<\/p>\n

The source said all crew members were safe and that authorities had taken necessary measures to secure the vessel and crew and protect the marine environment.<\/p>\n

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Disputes over management of the Strait of Hormuz led to the collapse of a preliminary deal reached in April between Washington and Tehran, reigniting the simmering five-month conflict. A Houthi maritime blockade may create a second chokepoint on global oil supplies alongside Iran\u2019s near-closure of the Hormuz.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tThis picture shows ships sailing near the Strait of Hormuz off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates at Khor Fakkan on July 13, 2026 (AFP)<\/p>\n

Before the Red Sea flare-up, Trump threatened<\/a> Wednesday to bomb one Iranian bridge or power plant in return for each attack on shipping in Hormuz, reiterating his longstanding threat to go after Iranian infrastructure. Trump said on Tuesday he would \u201ctake care of\u201d the Houthis if they followed through on their own blockade threat against Saudi ports.<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said Thursday they\u2019d stopped three oil tankers from transiting Hormuz after the Houthi attack on tankers.<\/p>\n

Two Chinese very large crude carriers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil were heading on Thursday toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the entry point to the Red Sea, shipping data showed.<\/p>\n

Millions of barrels per day of Saudi oil have been heading to the kingdom\u2019s Red Sea port of Yanbu to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. If shipments cannot exit toward the Arabian Sea through the Red Sea\u2019s southern strait, they have only the northern route through the Suez Canal, adding weeks and costs to the journey.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tA map of the Arabian Peninsula showing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key chokepoint for global maritime traffic (AFP \/ Sabrina BLANCHARD)<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the US said it completed its latest round of strikes on Iran at the president\u2019s direction late Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mission will continue to further degrade Iran\u2019s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters,\u201d the US Central Command said in a statement.<\/p>\n

According to a CENTCOM statement, the strikes hit Iranian \u201cmaritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier tonight, U.S. military released this statement:<\/p>\n

“At 10:30 p.m. ET on July 22, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces completed another round of strikes against Iran for the 12th consecutive night.<\/p>\n

U.S. forces struck Iranian military targets including maritime\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/riUYgFaSSW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Open Source Intel (@Osint613) July 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis month, American forces have targeted dozens of Iranian military sites on land while resuming a blockade against Iran at sea,\u201d the statement added. \u201cAs of today, CENTCOM has redirected nine commercial vessels and disabled one to prevent ships from entering or departing Iranian ports.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Iranian state media reported that two US missiles hit Bushehr, home to the country\u2019s only civilian nuclear plant and a frequent target of Washington, in overnight airstrikes.<\/p>\n

It also claimed the US attacked Shalamcheh on the Islamic Republic\u2019s border with Iraq, killing two people.<\/p>\n

In response to the attacks, Iran said it carried out drone attacks on bases in Kuwait hosting US military assets.<\/p>\n

The IRGC claimed attacks on Ali Al Salem base, Camp Udairi and a telecommunications tower, while the army said it targeted Camp Doha, Ali Al Salem base and Camp Arifjan, according to separate statements by the forces carried by state TV.<\/p>\n

The IRGC also said that it had attacked and destroyed several American military assets in Jordan, including a radar for the US THAAD missile defense system, a Patriot system, a C-RAM radar and a helicopter hangar, according to a statement aired by state TV.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tThis screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. (various sources\/AFP)<\/p>\n

Kuwait\u2019s army said it intercepted hostile drones following several days of Iranian strikes on the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cKuwaiti air defenses are currently responding to hostile drone threats,\u201d the army says in an overnight message on X. \u201cAny explosions that may be heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile targets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jordan said it had shot down four missiles and four drones, while air alert sirens sounded in Bahrain, where an AFP correspondent in Manama heard an explosion.<\/p>\n

Despite claims from Washington that it has destroyed Iran militarily, Tehran has demonstrated it retains missile and drone capabilities.<\/p>\n

Iran pounded vital water desalination and energy plants in Kuwait this week and struck US military assets there, in Bahrain and in Jordan.<\/p>\n

Each side has also reported an escalating human toll.<\/p>\n

An Iranian health ministry official said 53 people had been killed and 592 wounded since late last month. It did not differentiate between civilians and military personnel. Since the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced.<\/p>\n

The war has also led to the deaths of 18 US service members and injured more than 450 troops. Trump attended a ceremony on Wednesday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for four US service members killed in Iranian attacks on military bases over the last few days \u2014 three in Jordan and one in Iraq.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tUS President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth salute as a US Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, of Ozone Park, New York, July 22, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. (AP\/Matt Rourke)<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s one of the hardest things to do as a president. But it has to be done,\u201d Trump said before leaving for the ceremony.<\/p>\n

Later, at a speech in Georgia, Trump struck a different tone, saying of the war, \u201cI call it a skirmish.\u201d<\/p>\n

The US and Israel together launched a campaign against Iran on February 28 to degrade the regime\u2019s military capabilities, distance threats posed by the country \u2014 including its nuclear and ballistic missile programs \u2014 and \u201ccreate the conditions\u201d for the Iranian people to topple the regime, the military and other Israeli leaders have said.<\/p>\n

Israel respected the US-Iran ceasefire that began April 8, and the government, while not included in the process of negotiating the US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed last month, did not object to it even though it purported to bind both the US \u201cand its allies.\u201d<\/p>\n

It has, so far, not joined the renewed fighting since the truce broke down.<\/p>\n


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The war with Iran has been draining for all of us in Israel. But when I heard about a high casualty incident \u2013 ballistic missile impacts in Arad and Dimona that left nearly 200 people wounded \u2013 I drank a cup of coffee, packed a bag, and headed south.<\/p>\n

There, I spoke with Shilgit, the head of an after-school program for underprivileged youth. Standing outside her destroyed center, Shilgit said it was a miracle that no children were hurt and spoke about the community coming together in the hours since.<\/p>\n

As a Times of Israel reporter, I\u2019m committed to telling stories of resilience like Shilgit\u2019s. But my colleagues and I can’t do this alone. If you value work like this, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to keep real human reporting like this going.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Stav Levaton, military reporter<\/p>\n

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