The US has continued strikes on Iran for the thirteenth consecutive day following attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels. President Trump has threatened “major military punishment” in response, escalating tensions in the region. The Houthi rebels claim to be imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, diverting oil shipments and impacting global oil prices, which surged past $100 a barrel before easing slightly. These attacks expand the conflict to a second critical shipping lane, following earlier disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Concerns are rising that the Bab el-Mandeb strait could be closed, forcing tankers to take longer and more costly routes around Africa. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased as vessels avoid potential conflict zones.