- US forces struck multiple Iranian tankers tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in response to Iranian attempts to hit a US Navy warship, marking a resumption of US attacks on Iran after a two-day pause.
- Iranian media reported multiple attacks, with a US missile striking an Iranian tanker 6km from the oil hub of Kharg Island and a second oil tanker attacked near the waters of Jask on the Gulf of Oman.
- The IRGC threatened to target oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports in response, warning crews there to evacuate, according to a statement carried by state media.
- NASA satellite images showed a thick cloud of black smoke over the Jazan refinery and a column of white smoke rising from an oil distribution centre in Abha, with Saudi authorities describing blazes at the sites and saying women and children were among the wounded.
- The reports of such large numbers of wounded suggested the attacks were among the biggest carried out against Saudi Arabia since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in February.
- After a month of calm in August, fighting in the Gulf has resumed, with Iran and the US exchanging fire, sending global oil prices back towards the US$100 a barrel level passed at the war's peak; prices for benchmark Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate closed at their highest levels since Jul 23 and Jun 4, respectively.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis escalated the conflict by attacking four Saudi cities, injuring over 70 and igniting oil installations, marking a significant expansion of the ongoing war. The Houthis claimed responsibility for strikes using drones and missiles on key Saudi assets, including an airbase in Khamis Mushait and oil facilities in Abha, Najran, and Jazan.45
NASA satellite images revealed thick smoke over the Jazan refinery, indicating the severity of the attacks. Saudi authorities reported significant damage and casualties, with women and children among the injured. This surge in violence follows a month of relative calm, suggesting a dangerous escalation in hostilities.
In retaliation, US forces targeted Iranian tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after Iran threatened a US Navy warship. Reports indicate that US missiles struck an Iranian tanker near Kharg Island and another near Jask in the Gulf of Oman. The IRGC has warned of potential attacks on oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, escalating tensions further.123
As a result of these developments, global oil prices have surged, nearing $100 a barrel, with benchmark Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate reaching their highest levels since mid-summer. The ongoing conflict has significant implications for regional stability and global energy markets.78
“US strikes hit tankers near Kharg Island and Jask, with the IRGC threatening to target oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports. NASA imagery showed smoke over Saudi refineries, and Brent crude closed at its highest since July 23.”
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