Iran Reports Three Tankers Hit by Mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran reported that three oil tankers struck mines and caught fire while attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz through a restricted route. The announcement came from the state broadcaster, which cited the Revolutionary Guard Corps. The vessels were abandoned off the southern coast of the waterway after the damage occurred. The report did not name the specific ships or provide details on casualties.

According to the Iranian navy, the tankers turned off their radar and navigation systems and ignored warnings before hitting the mines. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center confirmed that a vessel spotted another ship on fire while transiting the strait. Officials at the center said they did not know the status of the crew or the extent of the damage. It remained unclear if that burning vessel was one of the three claimed by Tehran.

The U.S. military denied Iran's simultaneous claim that it captured an American surveillance drone near the same strait. Iranian state television reported that the Revolutionary Guard detected an MQM-170 Outlaw drone during an electronic warfare operation. The report stated that Iranian forces took control of the drone's systems and landed it in Iranian territory. The U.S. Central Command called the report false. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the command, said the group had repeatedly lied in recent weeks and months.

This development follows a similar claim in 2011, when Iran said it brought down an RQ-170 Sentinel drone using an electronic ambush. U.S. officials at that time stated the drone malfunctioned. The current claims arise as tensions remain high in the region over concerns that military attacks between the U.S. and Israel against Iran could resume.

In Israel, voters awaited final election results expected to be announced Thursday evening. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party amplified allegations that Arab-led parties had stolen the election. Final results were expected to confirm that Netanyahu's bloc lost its majority in parliament. No party won the 61 seats needed to control the Knesset, leaving the path to governance unclear.

Netanyahu pointed to a request by the elections committee for the Shin Bet intelligence service to investigate alleged foreign interference. The request did not specifically reference Arab-led parties. Nevertheless, Netanyahu argued that no party should cooperate with those groups. He used the request to support his claim that the election was compromised.

In Yemen, the Houthi-run Health Ministry said a Saudi strike killed 12 people and critically wounded three others in the city of Taiz. The ministry blamed the strike on Saudi Arabia, stating it hit two homes belonging to the same family. A separate Houthi human rights body said a strike hit a paint factory late Wednesday. That attack caused a large fire and could release toxic gases into the soil and groundwater near the besieged city.

A senior Iranian security official said his government received a message from U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The message was sent to Major General Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that Iran had not yet responded to the letter. Diplomats said U.S. officials have advised regional allies to prepare for potential renewed military action after next week's midterm elections.