Conflict & Security
Rubio says Iran drew Houthis into Red Sea attacks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Yemen's Houthi rebels had been drawn into attacking Red Sea shipping by Iran. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit in Manila, Rubio said the Houthis had largely stayed out of the conflict but had now, in his words, been “suckered” into going after Saudi Arabia and its ships. He said he hoped the Houthis would de-escalate, and said he believed they had been “snookered” by Iranians.
Update
Rubio made the comments on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit in Manila.
Rubio said the Houthis had gone after Saudi Arabia and its ships.
Rubio said he hoped the Houthis would de-escalate.
Rubio used both “suckered” and “snookered” to describe what he said Iran had done to the Houthis.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 08:32:21 UTC.
Update
Rubio said the Houthis were “suckered” into Red Sea attacks by Iranians.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 08:24:16 UTC.
Update
The Houthis said they carried out missile and drone strikes on two Saudi tankers, the Encelia and the Layla.
UKMTO said a tanker master reported an unknown projectile hit about 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq, causing a fire that the crew was fighting.
Saudi Arabia confirmed the Encelia was struck but did not comment on the Layla.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they stopped three oil tankers from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command reported a twelfth consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets.
Kuwait said it was intercepting drone threats after several days of Iranian strikes, while Jordan said it shot down missiles and drones and air sirens sounded in Bahrain.
Iranian state media said a US attack killed two people at Shalamcheh and reported two US missiles hit Bushehr.
Brent crude briefly topped $95 a barrel for the first time in nearly six weeks.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 04:02:32 UTC.
Update
Saudi state media cited an official source saying the vessel was named ENCELIA.
The vessel was described as belonging to a Saudi company.
The official source said the vessel was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea.
The official source said the strike caused a fire at the bow of the ship.
The official source said all crew members were safe.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 02:15:38 UTC.
Update
Saudi Arabia, according to state media, confirmed that a vessel was hit in the Red Sea.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 02:08:15 UTC.
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The United States launched a new wave of strikes on Iranian military targets for a 12th consecutive night, according to US Central Command.
US Central Command said the strikes began at 2130 GMT Wednesday and were meant to further reduce Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels in regional waters.
British naval security monitor UKMTO said the tanker report came about 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq and involved a fire the crew was fighting.
The Houthis named the tankers as the Encelia and the Layla and said they had violated a blockade.
US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for every Iranian attack on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would respond in kind to attacks on its infrastructure.
Kuwait said its air defences were intercepting hostile drones; Jordan said it shot down four missiles and four drones; and sirens sounded in Bahrain, where an AFP correspondent heard an explosion.
Iran's military and Revolutionary Guards confirmed targeting US assets in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the war had cost the United States $37.5 billion, up from nearly $29 billion in mid-May.
Four US service personnel were returned after three were killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan and one died during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone in Iraq.
Brent crude briefly rose above $95 a barrel for the first time in nearly six weeks before easing while remaining about three percent higher.
The International Chamber of Shipping said the Houthis had broadcast radio warnings to vessels.
Shipping tracker Kpler indicated several vessels reversed course before entering waters off Yemen, and AFP analysis found at least nine ships had turned back after the Houthi blockade announcement.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 23:16:52 UTC.
Update
Yemen's Houthis claimed strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
The claim identifies the tankers as Saudi oil tankers.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 22:04:46 UTC.
Update
UKMTO said the tanker was struck by an unknown projectile.
UKMTO said the strike caused a fire onboard and the crew were fighting it.
UKMTO said the incident was 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq.
The source notes the incident followed a maritime blockade declaration by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 21:51:23 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The report did not provide evidence for Rubio's claim.
Source
AFP news report published on .