Seven tankers reportedly damaged in Strait of Hormuz overnight

Seven oil tankers were reportedly attacked or struck naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz overnight on Thursday, according to Iran's state television, Press Trust of India reported. If verified, this would be the largest number of vessels damaged in the waterway in a single day since the Iran war began on February 28.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Yemen's government warned that Houthi rallies could be targeted, the toll from an attack on a Saudi airport rose to two, and a disabled Syrian civilian was killed during an Israeli forces raid in southern Syria.

Citing a statement from the Revolutionary Guard's navy, Iranian state television said four tankers caught fire after they were targeted while transferring oil. Three other vessels were damaged and left unable to move after striking naval mines.

The report did not provide details about possible casualties or the tankers' flags. It also warned that the Revolutionary Guard could target US bases in the region if Washington tried to allow oil tankers to pass through other parts of the strait. The Revolutionary Guard has repeatedly targeted US bases in Gulf countries during the war, PTI reported.

The war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran.

In Yemen, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday that Houthi rallies and mobilisation programmes would be considered legitimate military targets. It warned residents of Houthi-held areas against participating in such events.

The announcement, shared on social media, marked a major escalation against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and affected civilians living in areas under their control. Deliberate attacks on civilians could amount to a war crime.

Rallies and events described by the Houthis as "cultural courses" are among the group's main ways of mobilising supporters and fighters. Yemen's Defence Ministry said such gatherings were also used to recruit children for combat.

Saudi Arabia's Civil Aviation Authority said on Thursday that the toll from an attack on King Fahd Airport had risen to two. A Saudi citizen and an Indian national living in the kingdom were killed, while eight others were injured in the attack late on Wednesday.

Saudi authorities did not identify those responsible or provide further details. The Houthi rebels also did not issue a statement. King Fahd airport, in eastern Saudi Arabia near Bahrain and Qatar, has previously been attacked during a wider series of Houthi missile and other strikes on major Saudi airports.

In Syria, a disabled civilian was killed during an Israeli forces raid on the village of Jamla in the southern province of Daraa, state news agency SANA reported. It did not provide details about how the man was killed, while the Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Israel seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria after former president Bashar Assad was ousted in a rapid rebel offensive in December 2024 and has occupied it since. Jamla is outside the Israeli-occupied zone, but Israeli forces frequently enter areas beyond it.

The developments included reported damage to seven tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Yemen's warning over Houthi gatherings, two deaths in the Saudi airport attack and the killing of a disabled civilian during an Israeli raid in southern Syria.

With PTI Inputs

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