US Israel Iran War Latest News: Tensions across the Middle East intensified on Thursday as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia, Iran reportedly targeted “hostile targets” in the Strait of Hormuz, and US President Donald Trump said he believes the conflict with Iran could end soon. The developments also pushed global crude oil prices higher, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed that citizens had largely been shielded from the impact of the ongoing war.
US Israel Iran War Latest News: Houthi Attack Injures 11 Civilians in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s military said that 11 civilians were injured after Yemen’s Houthi rebels carried out a series of attacks in the southern border region of Najran. Among those injured was a four-year-old child.
The strikes took place near the Yemeni border and came only hours after the Iran-backed Houthi group claimed responsibility for separate attacks in central and eastern Yemen. Those attacks reportedly killed at least 30 government soldiers and left at least 50 others wounded.
The latest violence marks one of the biggest escalations since the April 2022 truce that significantly reduced large-scale fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
US Israel Iran War Latest News: Oil Prices Extend Rally After Iran Targets Strait of Hormuz
Global oil prices continued their upward movement after reports emerged that Iran had attacked “hostile targets” in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed above $78 per barrel after jumping nearly 3% in the previous trading session, while Brent crude traded around $82 per barrel.
According to reports, explosions were heard near Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday night (local time). Iranian media said the attacks targeted “hostile targets.” The gains in crude prices erased most of the week’s earlier losses as hopes for a complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz weakened. Reports also suggested that under a proposed agreement between Iran and Oman, Tehran plans to block Israeli ships from using the strategic waterway and seek compensation from countries it considers hostile for passage through the strait.
US Israel Iran War Latest News: Pezeshkian Says Citizens ‘Didn’t Feel the War’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country had managed the ongoing conflict effectively through coordinated governance and crisis management, with support from neighbouring countries. In a televised address, he praised government officials, provincial authorities and cabinet ministers for maintaining normal public life despite attacks on key infrastructure.
He said, “The people didn’t feel the war at all; they only realised something had happened when they were struck somewhere or saw the images on television. This situation was shaped thanks to our managers, governors, county governors, and the coordination of our ministers.”
US Israel Iran War Latest News: Trump Says Conflict Could End Soon
US President Donald Trump expressed optimism that the conflict involving Iran could conclude in the near future, saying Tehran may not be able to sustain the confrontation for much longer. He also voiced confidence in ongoing discussions concerning the Strait of Hormuz while reiterating that the United States would not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said, “When I started the very important excursion into the Islamic Republic of Iran, it was a very important excursion because they can’t have a nuclear weapon; otherwise the whole world would get blown up. We’re not gonna let that happen. Not only us, not only the Middle East, but the whole world would have been… It would have been catastrophic. We had no choice… We will see those days pretty soon again, based on everything I see, as soon as the war ends. And I think the war’s got to end pretty soon. I don’t think they can go much longer.”
