IRGC says supertanker hit naval mine in Hormuz, catches fire

 

Iran war: IRGC says supertanker hit naval mine in Hormuz, catches fire

By Yashraj Sharma and Caolán Magee

Published On 17 Oct 202617 Oct 2026

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• Iran’s IRGC says a supertanker carrying over two million barrels of crude oil has caught fire after striking a naval mine while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz through an “unauthorised” route.
• US President Donald Trump claims the US Navy’s “effective” blockade has stopped all Iranian ships from crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
• The UK Foreign Office says on Friday it advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia, after attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on the country.
• Yemen’s internationally recognised government says the Houthis have launched missiles at Aden’s airport, one day after a deadly attack on the city’s presidential palace.
• Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinians and an American journalist and set fire to olive trees in the West Bank, as pogroms in the occupied territory continue.

• 29m ago

  (07:15 GMT)

  Houthi missile strikes threaten key supply routes on Yemen’s Red Sea coast

  Frequent Houthi missile attacks, combined with the Iranian-backed group’s territorial gains around the city of Taiz in southwestern Yemen, have severed key supply routes and threatened other roads, ports and airports that government forces rely on for supplies.

  The disruptions could undermine the government’s “Dawn of Yemen” operation, which aims to recapture territory held by the Houthi group.

  Government officials, however, said supply issues will not halt the offensive, emphasising that their forces can overcome logistical challenges.

  You can read more about the situation here.

  

  A view of the southwestern city of Taiz, Yemen, on October 15, 2026 [Anees Mahyoub/Reuters]
• 44m ago

  (07:00 GMT)

  

  Three Palestinians injured in Israeli settler attack near Hebron

  Three Palestinians have been injured in an Israeli settler attack in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, Wafa reports, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent.

  One person was shot in the thigh with live ammunition while two others suffered injuries from pepper spray during the attack.

  Earlier, our colleagues on the ground reported that Israeli settlers had attacked Palestinian homes in the Ma’in area, east of Yatta city and south of Hebron.

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• 46m ago

  (06:57 GMT)

  

  Israeli drone strike kills Palestinian in Gaza City

  A Palestinian has been killed in an Israeli drone strike in eastern Gaza City, our colleagues on the ground report, quoting a source at al-Shifa Hospital.

  • 1h ago

    (06:40 GMT)

    

    Tanker struck by unknown projectile off Saudi coast, UKMTO reports

    A tanker has been struck by an unknown projectile 68 nautical miles (equivalent to about 125km) northeast of Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

    All crew members were reported safe and evacuated, with no environmental impact observed following the incident, according to the report.
  • 1h ago

    (06:30 GMT)

    Vance suggests he disagreed with Trump over Iran war

    US Vice President JD Vance, in a conversation about the war on Iran with former White House spokesman Sean Spicer, has said he had a “disagreement” with President Donald Trump.

    “Even if you disagree with him on that one issue, you can have that disagreement. And I think I have had that disagreement,” Vance told the show that aired on Friday.

    Vance was responding to a question about his relationship with right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson, who has been a vocal critic of the war. Vance said Carlson was “very, very angry” about it.

    “He and I have had that conversation in private, in public. I know how he feels, and I understand,” he said.

    Recounting a previous conversation with the former Trump ally, Vance said he urged Carlson to acknowledge what he described as the president’s achievements. “What I’ve said to Tucker is don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater … Aren’t closed borders and ending the ridiculous anti-white racial discrimination in our university admissions, aren’t these things worth actually acknowledging that Donald Trump has done a lot of good?”
  • 1h ago

    (06:15 GMT)

    Oil touches $110 a barrel for first time since May

    Brent has touched $110 a barrel for the first time since May amid worries that escalating Middle East tensions could further tighten supplies.

    Brent crude futures settled $3.94, or 3.7 percent, higher at $109.86 on Friday, the highest since May 19, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures closed $3.44, or 3.5 percent, higher at $101.41, the highest since September 17.

    So far this week, Brent rose 4.9 percent and WTI 10.4 percent.

    “WTI and Brent reversed earlier losses as escalation fears resurfaced amid rumours of attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure,” research and consultancy firm Energy Aspects said in a note.

    

    3D-printed oil barrels and a rising stock graph are seen in this illustration taken on March 23, 2026 [Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters]
  • 1h ago

    (06:00 GMT)

    

    Iran’s Araghchi arrives in Baghdad for OIC meeting

    Iran’s foreign minister has arrived in Baghdad to attend the 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC, which Iraq is hosting for the first time in 45 years.

    The Araghchi-led political delegation will hold meetings with counterparts on the sidelines of the summit, where the Iranian foreign minister is expected to address attendees, according to Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim News Agency.

    Tasnim reported that Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, developments in the occupied West Bank, regional security issues and combating Islamophobia will be among the main topics of discussion during the meetings.

    

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a briefing with foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran on October 4, 2026 [Atta Kenare/AFP]
  • 1h ago

    (05:50 GMT)

    

    Israeli settlers open fire on Palestinian farmers near Ramallah

    Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian farmers and opened fire on them in the village of Deir Jarir, east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, our colleagues on the ground report.

    The attack comes a day after at least three people were injured in a pogrom in the same village as they went to pick olives, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

    Separately, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinian men during dawn raids in Nablus and the nearby village of Tal, Wafa reported. Israeli forces also raided and searched several homes in Tal, arresting another man, the agency said.