US and Iran escalate conflict, Houthi attacks disrupt Red Sea shipping, pushing oil prices above $100

Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated, with the U.S. military conducting its 13th night of strikes against Iran, targeting maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage, and air defenses. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Jordan. Simultaneously, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, threatening a naval blockade on Saudi shipments through the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This escalation has driven Brent crude oil prices above $100 per barrel for the first time in two months, raising concerns about global trade and energy supplies.