Commercial vessel attacked off Iran as Houthis target Saudi military base

Tensions escalated in the Middle East over the weekend after one person was killed as an Iranian vessel came under attack in Qeshm Island while Yemen's Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government exchanged strikes over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

An Iranian commercial ship was struck near Hengam Island and the Shib Deraz coast of Qeshm around 5 am on Sunday, killing one person and wounding three others, Iranian media reported, citing Hossein Amir Teymouri, the governor of Qeshm. He blamed the "American-Zionist enemy" for the attack.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO, issued a report on Sunday saying it had received a report of an incident within the Strait of Hormuz.

READ MORE: 1 killed, 3 wounded as Iranian commercial ship hit in Hormuz Strait

"A vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Status of crew, damage assessment and environmental impact are unknown at present," said the UKMTO report.

"Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO whilst authorities are investigating," the UKMTO said.

The latest escalation comes as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the foreign ministers of the Arab states would be meeting in Oman on Monday to reach an agreement on a framework for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Pezeshkian made the announcement in an interview with Indian media on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, which took place in New Delhi on Saturday and Sunday. Pezeshkian reiterated Iran had no problems with its neighbors but objected to US military bases in the region allegedly being used to attack Tehran.

But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bahrain clarified in a statement on Saturday that Manama would not participate in the meeting and that it "will not be a party to any group meeting that includes Iran before the return of diplomatic relations between the two countries".

It said Bahrain's position had been communicated to Oman through official channels and that "it does not diminish the Kingdom's appreciation for their sincere efforts, nor its commitment to dialogue as a means to resolve differences".

Further, the ministry said that dialogue "cannot ignore the facts", adding that Bahrain had been subjected to attacks targeting its infrastructure and civilian facilities, one of which, targeting an ammonia tank, nearly led to a catastrophe.

"The ministry affirms that the security and stability of the region cannot be built on overlooking aggression, nor can it be bought by remaining silent about its consequences, nor can it be preserved through a policy of appeasement," it said.

Yemen's Houthi group said on Sunday it had launched a large-scale ballistic missile and drone attack on a military base in southern Saudi Arabia.

Drone strike

In a statement posted on X, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group had launched a large-scale ballistic missile and drone attack on a military base in Sharurah, Saudi Arabia, targeting weapons, depots and command-and-control facilities. He gave no information on casualties or damage.

He said the operation was in retaliation for continued Saudi military action in Yemen, warning further escalation would be met with "larger operations" deeper inside Saudi territory.

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Over the past two days, Saudi fighter jets have been hitting various areas under the control of the Ansar Allah Houthis, including central provinces and the north of the country, trying to prevent more Houthi advances, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he believes Iran was behind the attacks that forced the closure of Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline. He also claimed that the Houthis asked Washington not to intervene in the recent tensions.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy official also warned US naval vessels against approaching the Strait of Hormuz, vowing an "Iranian response" and challenging US claims of control over the critical waterway.

Contact the writers at jan@chinadailyapac.com