Houthi militants claim to have attacked two oil tankers in the Red Sea, signs of the US-Iran conflict spilling over.

The Yemeni Houthi forces, who had threatened to open another front in the war in Iran, claimed to have targeted two oil tankers in the Red Sea. Just minutes before the Houthi forces issued their statement on Wednesday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office stated that the captain of a tanker reported that the vessel was attacked off the coast of Al Shuqaiq, southwest of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has not yet commented on the attack. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz blocked, the Red Sea has become an important alternate route for oil exports, especially for Saudi Arabia's oil exports. Brent crude oil surged above $95 per barrel, while US crude oil rose 1.8% in early Thursday trading, with prices exceeding $88 per barrel. Shortly after news of the ship attacks in the Red Sea surfaced, the US Central Command announced that it had carried out more airstrikes against Iran, marking the 12th night of the current military operation. The Central Command stated in a release, "This mission will continue to degrade Iran's abilities to threaten civilian and commercial vessels in the area's waters."