Iran says it attacked an oil tanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Tehran in the largest pro-government demonstration since the United States and Israel began their attacks in February.
At the same time, South Korea said it was considering broadening the activities of a naval unit operating in the Gulf of Aden to safeguard South Korean ships and vital oil routes. However, Seoul emphasized that it would not deploy forces to become involved in the war between Iran and the United States.
Iran Says It Targeted an Oil Tanker
Iranian authorities said the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend was struck Thursday night after what Tehran described as an “illegal attempt” to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The report was carried by Iran’s state broadcaster, citing the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Associated Press said it was unable to independently verify the claim.
The Guard’s naval forces also warned that ships trying to navigate the strait without permission could be “destroyed,” according to state media. Since the U.S. and Israel began the war on Feb. 28, Tehran has claimed control over large portions of the strategically important waterway.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which issues warnings about maritime attacks and military activity, reported that another tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile” on Wednesday while leaving the strait. The crew was said to be safe, although no further information was immediately available.
Shipping Continues Through the Bab el-Mandeb
Container vessels and oil tankers have continued using the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they would focus their attacks on ships connected to Saudi Arabia. However, shipping traffic has declined over the past week following the Houthis’ rapid seizure of islands in the waterway.
According to Dimitris Ampatzidis, Maritime Risk & Compliance Manager at Kpler, roughly 26 to 35 ships have passed through the strait each day this week, compared with an average of 35 to 40 vessels per day during the previous eight weeks.
Many shipping companies stopped using the route after Houthi attacks on vessels linked to Israel began in 2023. Ships associated with Russia and China, however, appear to have continued operating there without major difficulty.
Mohamed Kotb of United Insurance Brokers in London described the current shipping pattern as severely disrupted and increasingly limited to selected vessels.
U.N. Security Council Condemns Houthi Attacks
The 15-member U.N. Security Council issued a statement Friday reaffirming its condemnation of Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and threats directed at ships traveling through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The council also strongly criticized the Houthis’ continuing military escalation in Yemen, warning that further fighting could worsen the country’s already severe humanitarian crisis.
The Houthis are battling Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, and the conflict has recently displaced more than 100,000 people.
Council members urged “practical cooperation” aimed at preventing the Houthis from obtaining weapons, military training, funding and other forms of military assistance that could enable further attacks.
Earlier Friday, crowds gathered in northern Yemen to demonstrate support for the Houthis and protest Saudi Arabia’s allegation that the rebels had targeted Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. Saudi officials said they intercepted a Houthi drone believed to be heading toward Mecca earlier in the week, while Houthi leaders denied responsibility.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV broadcast images of demonstrators holding pictures of the Kaaba in Mecca, along with Yemeni, Iranian, Lebanese and Palestinian flags.
Large Pro-Government Rally in Tehran
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran in the largest demonstration since the war began in February. Participants pledged their support for the government and described themselves as “Janfaday-e Iran,” meaning people willing to sacrifice their lives for Iran.
Iran’s government has been emphasizing national unity and encouraging public support as the country faces worsening economic conditions caused by a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and additional American sanctions.
Some demonstrators stepped on U.S. and Israeli flags, while others shouted slogans including “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
South Korea Considers Expanding Naval Operations
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Seoul was considering expanding the mission of its naval unit stationed in the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen and Somalia, in order to protect South Korean ships and oil transportation routes.
Lee nevertheless made clear that South Korea would not take steps that could pull it into the conflict between Iran and the United States. His comments came amid recent pressure from the Trump administration.
South Korea has operated the anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit in the region for years.
The increasing danger posed by Houthi attacks on regional shipping has raised concerns among governments and financial markets. The Houthis have maintained that their targets are limited to Saudi-linked assets, despite the broader impact on maritime traffic.
“There will be no troop deployment that involves or intervenes in the war,” Lee said.
Somaliland Seeks Greater U.S. Recognition
The president of Somaliland, the breakaway region of Somalia, is seeking stronger recognition from Washington while offering the possibility of U.S. military and commercial access to its coastline along the Gulf of Aden.
Following meetings with American officials and lawmakers, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi said Friday that securing a U.S. diplomatic presence in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, or in Berbera is a major priority.
Berbera is an important port near the entrance to the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an area that has become strategically significant during the U.S. conflict with Iran.
Several U.S. lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, particularly after Israel recognized it earlier this year.
The Trump administration, however, continues to recognize Somalia’s territorial integrity, which includes Somaliland.
Tensions Rise Between Lebanese and Israeli Forces
In Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli troops threw stun grenades near positions occupied by Lebanese army forces at the entrance to Deir Mimas.
The Israeli military said Lebanese soldiers had entered what Israel calls its “security zone,” an area occupied by Israeli forces during its most recent conflict with Hezbollah. Israel also said the Lebanese army had established roadblocks without coordinating with Israeli forces beforehand.
A Lebanese security official said the soldiers had been accompanying villagers who wanted to reach their olive groves and insisted that the location was not part of a security zone. According to the official, the Lebanese troops eventually withdrew. He spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to make public statements.
In June, Lebanon and Israel reached an agreement calling for Israeli forces to gradually withdraw from occupied areas in southern Lebanon and for the Lebanese army to assume control, in return for the disarmament of Hezbollah. Implementation of the agreement has made little progress so far.
