US Central Command image of its strike on the unladen Iranian oil tanker M/T Kylo in the Gulf of Oman, September 5, 2026

The Iranian Town Devastated By A US Strike On A Wedding

UPDATES: US War on Iran, Day 191 — US Expands Attacks, Tehran Expands Retaliation

UPDATE 1308 GMT:

An Iraqi official said an oil tanker has been targeted at port of Khor al-Amaya near the port of Basra in southeast Iraq.

The targeted tanker is carrying two million barrels of Iraqi oil and is stationed around the loading area.

UPDATE 1259 GMT:

The current price of Brent crude oil has broken the $100 per barrel mark for the first time in months.

The price now stands at $100.70.

UPDATE 0513 GMT:

Only six monitored commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, down from nine on Monday and below the 10-day average of around 12.

Of the six vessels, five were entering and one was exiting. They included one Panamax and one intermediate tanker.

In the Bab al-Mandeb Strait south of the Arabian peninsula, 25 commodity vessels transited on Tuesday, close to the daily average of 27 over the past 10 days.

UPDATE 0503 GMT:

Yemen’s Houthis attacked four cities in Saudi Arabia with drones and missiles, wounding more than 70 people and setting oil installations ablaze on Tuesday

The Saudis pledged retaliation. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said Saudi warplanes carried out 32 airstrikes across Yemen’s Marib, al-Jawf, and Taiz governorates.

UPDATE, SEPT 9:

The US military claims it “destroyed” more Iranian tankers after Iran tries to strike a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles.

Central Command said five tankers were hit in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of Iran’s maritime oil, in the northern Persian Gulf. It said US forces “directed the crews to abandon ship before the vessels were struck”.

Centcom said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards targeted the Navy vessel twice over the past two days: “The US warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed.”

The Revolutionary Guards claimed they retaliated with a strike on a US military base in Jordan. The Jordanian armed forces said air defenses destroyed 18 ⁠of 20 ​ballistic missiles, with other two falling in unpopulated areas ‌and no casualties.

The Guards also declared that they attacked ⁠two US ​vessels and eight ⁠oil tankers, warning crews near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave the ships.

UPDATE 1701 GMT:

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim air defenses have intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-1 remotely-piloted drone over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Guards navy said it seized an unmanned US submarine at the entrance of the Strait.

A US official said a military drone malfunctioned as it was surveying regional waters.

The official said the defective drone, which stopped operating more than a day ago, was an older model and was not carrying any classified sonar or radar equipment.

UPDATE 0906 GMT:

The US naval blockade on Iranian ports is restricting Tehran’s revenues from oil exports.

No Iranian crude has crossed the blockade since it was reinstated by the US Navy in mid-July, reports maritime monitor Kpler.

Iran loaded 255,000 barrels a day on vessels inside the Gulf in August, 85% below the February-April average. Those ships are trapped inside the Persian Gulf.

The volume of Iranian crude already on vessels outside the blockade has fallen to around 29 million barrels from around 90 million barrels in mid-July and could run out next month, according to Kpler

Gulf oil officials said they have found few Iranian cargoes changing hands.

Around a third of Iran’s state budget is typically funded by oil revenue. Oil sales also directly help finance the regime’s military.

UPDATE 0755 GMT:

Iran’s authorities executed Erfan Mirzaei, a 21-year-old rapper detained during nationwide protests in January protests, on Sunday.

Security forces claimed video footage of clashes between protesters and Basij militia members was discovered on Mirzaei’s mobile phone. He was charged with moharebeh (enmity against God) and sentenced to death.

Sources said substantial sums of money were paid in hopes of halting the execution, but his family were informed of his hanging without prior notice.

The family had been warning that if they publicized the arrest, case details, or death sentence, then the execution would be carried out immediately.

The sources said Mirzaei was subjected to severe beatings and torture during his detention.

UPDATE 0538 GMT:

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry says several energy facilities and installations in the south have been targeted this morning by Yemen’s Houthis.

The attacks caused fires at several sites, temporarily halting some operations. Personnel have been injured.

Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Gulf Cooperation Council each condemned the attacks.

UPDATE, SEPT 8:

Israeli forces shelled the al-Salouqi and al-Hujeir valleys in southern Lebanon overnight.

The Israelis also fired heavy machine guns on the forests hext to the town of Qabrikha.

They raised the Israeli flag in a dawn raid on the town of Kfarchouba.

UPDATE 1447 GMT:

At least 27 people have been killed and 69 injured by Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon over the past three days.

The fatalities include children, women, and medical personnel.

The deadliest single strike was on the town of Kfar Reman where 11 people were slain, including two babies and two paramedics (see 0707 GMT). Search-and-rescue operations continue.

UPDATE 0958 GMT:

Iran has praised a positive meeting between Qatar’s mediators and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, “They had good meetings with Dr Araghchi….Diplomacy is a dynamic and continuous process, and we will certainly make the best possible use of diplomatic tools to safeguard our national interests.”

Baghaei warned South Korea against military involvement in US operations in the Strait of Hormuz, saying this would have “serious consequences”.

On Friday, Seoul said it was considering “contributions” to US security efforts in the Strait, provided its military readiness was not compromised. Officials added that no decision had been made.

Baghaei cautioned South Korea against succumbing to “US pressure and intimidation”.

UPDATE 0953 GMT:

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned of strikes against American energy companies after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to “destroy” Iranian tankers.

“It’s simple: the oil and gas production chain here is sprawling, accessible, and exposed,” Ghalibaf posted. “American oil and gas companies across these waters and facilities share that exposure. Strike our assets, and you get struck.”

UPDATE 0707 GMT:

The toll has risen to 11 killed, including two infants and two paramedics, from Israel’s strikes on Kfar Reman in southern Lebanon.

Nine of the victims, including the infants, were slain in the attack on a three-story residential building. Five people were wounded.

The paramedics were killed in an Israeli drone attack on a civilian vehicle.

UPDATE 0624 GMT:

At least 10 people have been killed, including a 2-month-old infant, by Israeli strikes on Kfar Rumman in southern Lebanon overnight.

Nine of the 10 victims were killed in a strike on a building, while the other was on a motorcycle.

Rescuers believe there are two more bodies, including that of a child, under the rubble.

UPDATE 0524 GMT:

An average of 10 monitored commodity ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz daily over the past 10 days, the lowest level since May.

Only two vessels passed through the Strait on Saturday and six on Sunday, mostly using the Iranian route.

The Trump Administration maintained that a significant number of oil tankers are crossing “dark” with transponders turned off.

The current price of Brent crude oil is $97.30 per barrel.

UPDATE, SEPT 7:

Israel is bombing Deir al-Zahrani in southern Lebanon after demanding that residents leave the area.

“Hezbollah’s terrorist activity compels the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act forcefully against it,” the army said, declaring that it was targeting a “Hezbollah terrorist facility”.

UPDATE 0754 GMT:

At least four people have been killed and 20 injured by Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon.

At least two of the fatalities were in the village of Arab Salim, after Israel issued a forced displacement order around 6 a.m.

One strike destroyed the Ghandour Hospital in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

The hospital was empty of all patients and staff.

Another attack damaged the Finance Ministry building in Nabatieh. The Ministry said it had taken “the necessary measures” to protect files and documents and ensure “the continuity of work”.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed they were carrying out strikes on Hezbollah sites, responding to a drone attack on troops early Sunday morning.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Trying to break Iran with economic warfare, the US destroyed three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday.

Two of the tankers were “permanently disabled”, and the third, which was unladen, was destroyed.

US Central Command claimed that it was responding to “multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks” on a US aircraft carrier and destroyer on Saturday. No personnel were injured.

“We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet,” Centcom head Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement.

Cooper said the M/T Downy was struck off Kharg Island, the hub in the northern Persian Gulf which handled around 90% of Iran’s maritime oil exports. The M/T Stark 1 was hit near the port of Jask in southern Iran, and the unladen M/T Kylo was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman.

Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said “illegal and aggressive” attacks were an “overt threat to international peace and the security of commercial shipping”.

Iranian State media claimed Iran targeted three oil tankers and three American vessels in response. The Revolutionary Guards said its naval forces attacked a remotely-operated US boat “attempting to enter the protected area of the Strait of Hormuz”.