Iran reports no new US strikes as tensions remain high
Iran reported no strikes overnight into Saturday, an apparent break from nearly two weeks of consecutive nights of US attacks, but tensions remain high following a recent escalation over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour posted on X, saying that “Iran had a peaceful night,” without any attacks reported. The US Central Command didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. However, unlike the previous 13 nights, it did not announce new strikes.
Sirens sounded multiple times early Saturday in Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu and Jizan provinces, which house crucial oil facilities on the Red Sea, according to the Saudi Civil Defence. It said the sirens were because of a “potential danger” that was later lifted, without providing further details. Bahrain also sounded missile alerts early Saturday, but no casualties have been reported.
A tenuous ceasefire that appeared to halt major operations in the conflict that started with American and Israeli attacks on Iran seemed to unravel early July. Iran was accused of striking three ships in the strait. The US responded by striking dozens of targets in Iran, which retaliated by firing at Arab states in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for world energy supplies effectively shut down by Iranian attacks, has been at the centre of the conflict. The US military fired Friday on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman that was trying to breach its renewed blockade of Iran’s ports, while Iran targeted US-allied Gulf Arab countries.
Iran’s Houthi allies targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea this week, raising concerns the group may again try to block Red Sea shipping routes. In response, Saudi Arabia struck the port city of Hodeida in Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said early Saturday.
