Hans van LeeuwenJul 24, 2026 – 12.00pmLondon | “We are now witnessing a new phase in the war,” Amir Mohammad Akraminia, the Iranian brigadier general, told state media on Thursday (Friday AEST). He’s not wrong.Houthi militants claim to have bombed two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, making good on their threat to blockade the Bab al-Mandab Strait.The Telegraph LondonSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles