Iran says three tankers exploded after ignoring warnings in Hormuz

Iran’s state broadcaster reported that three oil tankers struck naval mines and exploded within the past 24 hours. The vessels were attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz through a route that the Iranian navy designated as unauthorized. The report came from the Revolutionary Guard Corps and did not name the ships or list any casualties.

The Iranian navy stated that the tankers turned off their radar and navigation systems. It said the crews ignored warnings as they moved through a restricted area. The damaged vessels were left abandoned off the southern coast of the waterway. Iran maintains that ships must communicate with its authorities and follow specific paths, claiming other routes contain mines.

The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the incident. A British military monitor noted that a vessel spotted another on fire while transiting the strait on Thursday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said it did not know the status of the crew or the extent of the damage. It was unclear if that burning ship was one of the three mentioned by the Guard.

Tankers continue to move oil through the strait under U.S. military protection, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. This activity persists despite recent increases in attacks in the region. Tensions remain high as observers worry that U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran could resume.

In Israel, citizens awaited final election results that could be announced as early as Thursday evening. Projections showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, opposition parties with 48, and Arab-led parties with 19. No single group appeared able to reach the 61-seat majority required to form a government.

Allegations of foreign interference have complicated the process. The head of the Central Elections Committee asked the Shin Bet intelligence service to investigate claims of funding by foreign entities. The request, dated Wednesday, did not specify who made the claims. Netanyahu used the investigation to argue that no party should cooperate with Arab-led groups, a point not addressed in the original letter.

In Yemen, the Houthi-run Health Ministry said a Saudi strike killed 12 people and critically wounded three others in Taiz. The attack hit two homes belonging to the same family on Thursday. A separate strike late Wednesday hit a paint factory, causing a large fire. Authorities warned that toxic gases could contaminate nearby soil and groundwater.

In Gaza, an Israeli strike on a civilian vehicle in the central enclave killed two people and wounded another on Thursday. Health officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed the casualties. The total death toll in Gaza has risen daily since a fragile ceasefire began in October 2025, with more than 1,550 Palestinians killed according to the territory’s Health Ministry.