Fresh strikes as US vows retaliation for Houthi attacks
The United States has launched a new wave of military strikes against Iranian targets following Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes. The escalation has caused global oil prices to surge, prompting warnings from international leaders about the potential for a broader regional conflict.
Why it matters
The ongoing conflict threatens global energy security and risks further destabilizing the Middle East.
The United States has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian military targets, marking the 13th successive night of active combat in the region.
The latest volley comes the night after Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen opened a new front in the war with attacks on oil tankers in Red Sea shipping lanes - though US Central Command (CENTCOM) did not specifically mention the rebel blockade in announcing the latest offensive.
Iranian state media reported that US missiles hit the southwestern city of Ahvaz, and explosions were heard in nearby Omidiyeh, as well as the port city of Bandar Abbas and the island of Qeshm on the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said the attacks "aimed to hold Iran accountable and diminish threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to commercial shipping".
Oil prices soared along with the increased threat to the energy trade.
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