US President Donald Trump warned Iran would be held responsible for any new Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Houthis brandish their weapons as they rally in solidarity with Iran and Lebanon, amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Mar 27, 2026. (File photo: AFP/Mohammed Huwais)
24 Jul 2026 02:37AM
(Updated: 24 Jul 2026 01:13PM)
DUBAI: US President Donald Trump promised "major military punishment" for Iran and its Houthi allies after the Yemeni fighters struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, extending the Middle East war to a second major shipping chokepoint.Fears that disruption could widen to block another sea route have sent global oil prices surging in one of the steepest rises of the war. Brent crude rose more than 6 per cent, piercing the level of US$100 a barrel for the first time since May.Two weeks since the effective collapse of an interim truce meant to end the war, the US military launched air strikes on Iran late on Thursday (Jul 24) and early on Friday, for a 13th consecutive night of attacks, prompting Iran to fire at neighbouring Arab countries that host US bases.On both nights, Iranian state media said missiles struck Qeshm Island on the Strait of Hormuz, the virtually closed waterway that is the focus of a war well into its fifth month that has killed thousands and fanned fears of a global economic downturn.
