US strikes Iran from south to north, new threats to Red Sea shipping
U.S. missiles struck targets across Iran following President Trump's vow of military punishment for Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. The conflict has caused oil prices to fluctuate and forced shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa.
Why it matters
The expansion of the conflict into a major global shipping chokepoint poses significant risks to the global economy and energy supply chains.
US missiles struck targets across Iran on Friday (local time) after President Donald Trump vowed "major military punishment" for Tehran and its Houthi allies in Yemen for extending the Middle East war to a second major shipping chokepoint, the mouth of the Red Sea.
Two weeks after The collapse of an interim truce meant to end The war, The Iranian armed forces responded by firing at US bases in neighbouring Arab countries and warning people there that they May strike non-military buildings used by US personnel.
The Houthis, who control northern and western Yemen, have announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, which has diverted millions of barrels of oil each day by pipeline to the Red Sea to skirt Iran's near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
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