Key facts
- Seven vessels, including oil tankers, were claimed to be hit in the Persian Gulf.
- Four tankers were reportedly struck by Iranian forces in the northern Persian Gulf.
- Three other vessels reportedly struck mines west of the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Houthis attacked infrastructure near Saudi Arabia's Shaybah oilfield.
- Two people were killed and two injured in the Houthi attack.
- Brent crude futures rose above $111 per barrel.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed on Thursday that seven vessels, including oil tankers, were hit by Iranian forces or struck mines in the Persian Gulf over the past day. The IRGC Navy stated its forces hit four tankers during oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf and that three other vessels hit mines west of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC Navy also warned the United States that continued provocations could lead to a wider response against regional U.S. bases. The escalation follows Houthi attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia, including infrastructure near the Shaybah oilfield, which killed two people and injured two others. Despite the attack, operations at the Shaybah field remained unaffected. Oil prices rose over 2% in Asian trading, with Brent crude futures topping $111 per barrel, amid concerns about potential disruption to Saudi supply.