Four oil tankers hit mines in Strait of Hormuz

Photo — İrfan Simsar / Pexels

Iran said the tankers used a prohibited passage and were destroyed after hitting mines, though the circumstances and casualty figures remain unclear. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical oil-shipping route, and the incident comes alongside reported attacks involving Saudi Arabia, Yemen and a downed US drone. China is urging negotiations between Washington and Tehran and calling for the waterway to reopen, while the wider confrontation threatens to broaden across the Middle East.

Sources: The Daily Star, Associated Press, Asharq Al-Awsat