The United States has launched its 10th round of strikes on Iran, targeting military command and coastal sites, as oil prices surged and Yemen's Houthi militants threatened to blockade shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
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Key facts
- The US carried out its 10th round of strikes on Iran, which says it is in 'full-scale war'.
- Brent crude for September delivery rose 2.72% to $90.50 a barrel, its highest since June, briefly crossing $91.
- CENTCOM said it targeted Iranian military command centers, air defenses, coastal surveillance, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone launch sites.
- A vessel caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Houthi militants in Yemen threatened traffic moving through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
The United States has launched a 10th round of strikes on Iran, according to the Guardian’s live coverage of the escalating Middle East crisis. The US said the latest attack was aimed at further degrading Iranian military capabilities, while Iran said it was now in a state of ‘full-scale war’.
The strikes rattled global energy markets. The price of oil jumped in early Asian trade on Monday, with Brent crude for September delivery rising 2.72% to $90.50 a barrel by around 0100 GMT. The benchmark briefly crossed $91, its highest price since June, after the US carried out its latest wave of strikes and a vessel caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its assets had targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks. The military said the aim was to further diminish Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, CENTCOM said the US military was ‘holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief’s direction’, framing the operation as part of a sustained campaign against Iranian military infrastructure.
The crisis has widened beyond Iran itself. Yemen’s Houthi militant group threatened traffic moving through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, raising the prospect of disruption to another critical shipping chokepoint alongside the Strait of Hormuz.
The combination of repeated strikes, the reported fire aboard a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Houthi threat has heightened concerns about the security of maritime trade routes that carry a significant share of the world’s oil.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb strait are among the world's most important shipping chokepoints, and threats to them can push up oil prices worldwide. An escalating conflict between the US and Iran carries the risk of drawing in more regional actors and disrupting global energy supplies.
Frequently asked questions
How much did oil prices rise after the US strikes?
Brent crude for September delivery rose 2.72% to $90.50 a barrel by around 0100 GMT, briefly crossing $91 – its highest price since June.
What did the US strikes target?
According to CENTCOM, the strikes targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks.
What have the Houthis threatened?
The Yemen-based militant group threatened traffic moving through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key shipping route.
Timeline
- Yemen's Houthis attack Saudi tanker as US launches more Iran strikes
BBC World: The Iran-backed group, which previously announced a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia, also claims to have hit another vessel.
- Yemen’s Houthis claim attacks on Red Sea tankers as US launches 12th night of strikes on Iran – Middle East crisis live
The Guardian World: US military says it is degrading Tehran’s ability to threaten ships in strait of Hormuz; Houthis say tankers violated their blockade; US signs nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia Kuwait’s air defences are responding to hostile drone threats amid “Iranian aggression”, the Kuwaiti army
- U.S. strikes Iran and Houthis threaten Saudi Arabia shipping as mediators push 10-day ceasefire
CNBC Top News: The latest cycle of strikes comes amid reports that regional mediators have presented Washington and Tehran with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire.
- Iran claims attacks in strait of Hormuz; Houthis announce blockade of Red Sea shipping route – Middle East crisis live
The Guardian World: Revolutionary Guard claims attack on oil tanker and two other ships; Houthis in Yemen say they are imposing an immediate maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea Full report: Almost 100 troops injured in recent weeks, Pentagon admits, as Iran launches reprisals on US alli
- US launches further strikes on Iran; Houthis threaten Saudi shipping blockade – Middle East crisis live
The Guardian World: US says latest attack aimed at further degrading Iranian military capabilities; Yemen militant group threatens traffic moving through Bab el-Mandeb strait US launches 10th round of strikes as Iran says it is in ‘full-scale war’ The price of oil jumped in early Asian trade on Mond