The Houthis in Yemen, which once threatened to open another front in the Iran war, claimed that they had locked down two oil tankers in the Red Sea to launch an attack. Just a few minutes before the Houthis issued a statement on Wednesday, the British Maritime Trade Operations Office said that the captain of an oil tanker reported that the ship had been attacked southwest of Al Shuqaiq on the Saudi Red Sea coast. Saudi Arabia has yet to comment on the attack. Due to the blockage of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea has become an important alternative channel for crude oil exports, especially Saudi crude oil exports. Brent crude oil surged, breaking through 95 US dollars per barrel. U.S. crude oil rose 1.8% in early trading on Thursday, and the trading price exceeded 88 US dollars per barrel. Shortly after news broke that the ship had been attacked in the Red Sea, the US Central Command announced that it had launched more air strikes against Iran. This is the 12th night of the current round of US military operations. The Central Command said in a statement: “This mission will continue to weaken Iran's ability to threaten the ability of civilian crew members and commercial vessels to pass through regional waters.”

The Houthis in Yemen, which once threatened to open another front in the Iran war, claimed that they had locked down two oil tankers in the Red Sea to launch an attack. Just a few minutes before the Houthis issued a statement on Wednesday, the British Maritime Trade Operations Office said that the captain of an oil tanker reported that the ship had been attacked southwest of Al Shuqaiq on the Saudi Red Sea coast. Saudi Arabia has yet to comment on the attack. Due to the blockage of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea has become an important alternative channel for crude oil exports, especially Saudi crude oil exports. Brent crude oil surged, breaking through 95 US dollars per barrel. U.S. crude oil rose 1.8% in early trading on Thursday, and the trading price exceeded 88 US dollars per barrel. Shortly after news broke that the ship had been attacked in the Red Sea, the US Central Command announced that it had launched more air strikes against Iran. This is the 12th night of the current round of US military operations. The Central Command said in a statement: “This mission will continue to weaken Iran's ability to threaten the ability of civilian crew members and commercial vessels to pass through regional waters.”