Houthi rebels seized two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, attributing the raids to violation of its new maritime law, in Yemen.
The vessels were shot down with a ballistic missile, a cruise missile and a drone, according to Houthis military spokesman Yahya Sarea, who told a news agency about the attack in the group’s statement.
The new strike comes as part of an escalation of the Red Sea operations, the Houthis’ warning over a blockade of Saudi ports further hampering sea lanes already affected by the Strait of Hormuz situation.
US president Donald Trump, meanwhile, threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for each attack on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said in a tweet that the U.S. will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant any time Iranian-backed forces shoot at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran responded quickly, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatening that Tehran will retaliate against any attack on its infrastructure.
“The defence doctrine is a simple one here, and that’s the harpoons we deploy. If there is any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, there will be a forceful and decisive reply,” Araghchi wrote on X.
The recent developments have added to tensions throughout the Middle East, particularly in the security of vital shipping routes to energy supplies throughout the world and the potential for a wider regional war.