Merchant Vessel Struck Near Strait of Hormuz, One Killed and Three Injured
TEHRAN: A merchant vessel was struck near Iran’s Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, leaving one person dead and three others injured, according to Iranian authorities.
Qeshm city governor Amir Teymouri said the vessel was hit at around 5am near the waters off Hengam and Qeshm islands. He confirmed the casualties in comments reported by Iranian state television but did not provide details about who carried out the strike.
Several explosions were also reported overnight in areas around Qeshm, one of the largest islands in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident comes as tensions remain high around the strategically important waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a major route for international oil and gas shipments.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Key Regional Flashpoint
The latest incident comes ahead of a planned meeting between Iran and Gulf states in Oman to discuss the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway has become a major point of tension during the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States. Iran has imposed restrictions on vessels passing through the strait, citing security and sovereignty concerns.
Tehran has also discussed introducing a system requiring vessels to obtain permission before transiting the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is particularly important to global energy markets because a significant share of international oil and gas shipments passes through the route.
Houthi Group Reports Attack on Saudi Military Base
Separately, Yemen’s Houthi group said on Sunday that it had launched drones and missiles toward a military base in southern Saudi Arabia.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on X that the attack targeted weapons storage facilities and command-and-control centres at the Sharurah military base. The group did not provide details about when the operation took place.
The reported attack comes amid renewed clashes between Houthi fighters and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Yemeni military officials said their forces had carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions in the Taiz region, including areas near the Red Sea port city of Mocha.
Fighting Forces Thousands to Leave Their Homes
The renewed fighting has also triggered a fresh wave of displacement in Yemen.
According to the United Nations’ migration agency, around 76,000 people have been forced to leave their homes since July as fighting intensified. The number has increased sharply in recent days.
Many civilians from areas affected by the fighting have moved toward Aden and other relatively safer locations.
Residents interviewed by international media described leaving their homes with limited belongings as fighting spread.
Djibouti has also received people fleeing the conflict. The country’s economy and finance minister said around 1,400 people had arrived from Yemen.
Yemen’s conflict began in 2014 when Houthi forces seized the capital, Sanaa. Although fighting had significantly reduced following a 2022 ceasefire, violence has increased again in recent months.
The latest developments around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea have raised further concerns about regional security and the potential impact on international shipping and energy supplies.
