Symbolic imageMore tankers burn in Hormuz as Iran keeps up pressure
Iran says five tankers and a tugboat caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after striking mines. A Turkish soldier was also killed by fire from the Iranian side of the border.
On Thursday, 5 November, Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said a tanker struck a mine south of the strait and a supertanker caught fire while leaving its eastern part. A tugboat that approached to help also burned. The Iranian army later reported three more tankers hit mines east of the strait. Tehran says all the ships were using unauthorized routes, and the claims come from Iranian outlets alone. Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) said a tanker was struck by two projectiles about 50 nautical miles north of Qatar's Madinat ash Shamal on Wednesday at 23:20 GMT. The crew's status is unconfirmed and nobody has claimed the attack.
Turkish soldier killed at border
Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Thursday that a soldier is believed to have been killed on 31 October by gunfire from the Iranian side while troops tried to prevent illegal crossings. Officials from both countries met at the scene on 3 November, and each has opened an investigation.
Oil prices and war fears
Brent crude opened at $94.62 and climbed toward $97, The American Conservative reports. Al Jazeera, citing The New York Times, says unnamed Pentagon officials describe US forces as poised to resume major combat, while Qatar says both sides are reviewing mediators' proposals. South Korea said it would send ships to help secure passage but no troops.