Strait of Hormuz tensions rise following tanker sinking and drone strikes

Regional tensions have escalated sharply in the Middle East following fresh military actions by Iran. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that two oil tankers suffered explosions after striking naval mines in the southern Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the sinking of a supertanker carrying over two million barrels of crude oil. The incident caused an estimated $400 million in damage as the strategic waterway remains largely obstructed.

Simultaneously, Iranian forces launched six drones targeting a US air defence radar facility at the al-Riffa base in Bahrain. Authorities in Manama reported that air defence systems successfully intercepted and destroyed all six drones before they reached their intended target, prompting Gulf nations to issue warnings against further escalation.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica