Iran claims three tankers hit mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s state broadcaster reported on Thursday that three oil tankers exploded and caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The report, which cited the Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that the vessels hit the mines while attempting to exit the waterway through an unauthorized route. The broadcast did not identify the specific ships or provide information on casualties.

The Iranian navy said the tankers turned off their radar and navigation systems. It claimed the vessels ignored warnings as they moved through a restricted passage. According to the navy, the damaged ships were abandoned off the southern coast of the strait. The Revolutionary Guard has long maintained that ships must communicate with Iranian authorities and follow specific, unmapped routes to avoid danger.

A British military monitor observed a separate vessel 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 not immediately clear if that burning ship was one of the three mentioned in the Iranian report. Tankers continue to move through the area under U.S. military protection, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, despite recent increases in attacks.

In Israel, voters are waiting for final election results that could be announced as early as Thursday evening. Current projections suggest that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition will reach the 61-seat majority needed to form a government. Local media projected 53 seats for Netanyahu’s allies, 48 for opposition parties, and 19 for Arab-led parties. Netanyahu has amplified claims that the election was stolen, a stance that deepens uncertainty in the political process.

Allegations of foreign interference in the Israeli election have prompted an investigation. The head of the Central Elections Committee asked the Shin Bet intelligence service to look into the claims. The request, dated Wednesday, cited alleged funding by foreign entities against the Israeli interest without providing specific details. Israeli law requires election results to be certified by November 4. Netanyahu used the request to argue that no party should cooperate with Arab-led groups, even though the letter did not address that specific issue.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday, while visiting Cyprus, that he is ready to resume peace talks with Israel once a new government is formed. His comments came as tensions in the region remain high due to concerns that U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran could resume. The announcement of tanker strikes in the Strait of Hormuz adds to the pressure on regional stability.

In Yemen, Houthi rebels said a Saudi strike killed 12 people in the besieged city of Taiz. The Houthi-run Health Ministry stated that the attack hit two homes belonging to the same family on Thursday. It reported that three people, including women and children, were critically wounded. The ministry blamed Saudi Arabia for the strike, though independent verification has not been confirmed.

A separate Houthi-run human rights body said another strike hit a paint factory late on Wednesday. The group blamed government forces for the attack. The strike caused a large fire and could release toxic gases, contaminating nearby soil and groundwater, according to Yemen’s National Human Rights Authority. The province in southwestern Yemen has been a contested front line, split between the Houthis and government forces, with renewed fighting in recent weeks.

In Gaza, an Israeli strike on a civilian vehicle killed two people and wounded a third in central Gaza on Thursday. Health officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the casualties were taken, reported the deaths. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. More than 1,550 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes since a fragile ceasefire began in October 2025, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.