Three tankers caught fire in Strait of Hormuz

Three oil tankers are on fire in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said the vessels struck mines and caught fire within the last 24 hours. The ships were attempting to exit the strait through a restricted route. The state broadcaster reported that the tankers turned off their radar and navigation systems. They ignored warnings from Iran's navy before the explosions occurred. The damaged vessels were abandoned off the southern coast of the waterway. The report did not name the ships or list casualties. The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the details.

A British military monitor tracked one burning vessel moving through the strait on Thursday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center stated it did not know the status of the crew or the extent of the damage. It was not yet clear if that specific ship was one of the three claimed by the Revolutionary Guard. Tensions in the region remain high due to fears that U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran may resume.

The incident coincides with a dispute over an American surveillance drone. Iranian state television said the Revolutionary Guard captured an MQM-170 Outlaw drone intact. The report described an electronic warfare operation that allowed Iranian forces to take control of the aircraft before landing it on their territory. The broadcast did not specify when the seizure took place. U.S. Central Command called the report false. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the command, said in an email that the Revolutionary Guard has repeatedly lied in recent months and weeks. He offered no further details on the drone's current status. Iran made a similar claim in 2011 regarding an RQ-170 Sentinel. U.S. officials said that drone malfunctioned at the time.

In Israel, voters are waiting for final election results expected on Thursday evening. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party amplified allegations that Arab-led parties stole the vote. Final tallies are expected to confirm that Netanyahu's bloc lost its majority in parliament. No single party won the 61 seats required to control the Knesset. Netanyahu seized on a new request from the elections committee for the Shin Bet intelligence service to investigate interference by unspecified foreign entities. The request did not mention Arab-led parties. Netanyahu and his allies argued that no party should cooperate with those groups.

In Yemen, the Houthi-run Health Ministry said a Saudi strike killed 12 people and critically wounded three others in Taiz. The casualties included women and children. The ministry said the strike hit two homes belonging to the same family on Thursday. The Associated Press could not independently verify the report. Taiz province has seen renewed fighting and airstrikes in recent weeks. A separate Houthi-run human rights body said a strike hit a paint factory late Wednesday. It blamed government forces for the attack. The strike caused a large fire and could release toxic gases into the soil and groundwater.

An Israeli strike on a civilian vehicle killed two people and wounded another in central Gaza on Thursday. Health officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported the casualties. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. More than 1,550 Palestinians have died in Israeli strikes since a ceasefire began in October 2025. The Gaza Health Ministry maintains detailed records but does not distinguish between civilians and militants.