Iran reports three tankers hit by mines, US denies drone capture

Three oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after striking mines, Iranian authorities announced.

The Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that the vessels attempted to exit the strait through an unauthorized route. The navy reported that the tankers turned off their radar and navigation systems and ignored warnings. The damaged ships were abandoned off the southern coast of the waterway. The report did not name the tankers or list casualties, and the Associated Press could not immediately confirm the account. A British military monitor said a vessel on fire was spotted in the strait, though its status and connection to the Iranian claim remain unclear.

The U.S. military rejected Iran's claim that it captured an American drone near the strait. Iranian state television reported that the Revolutionary Guard seized control of an MQM-170 Outlaw drone during an electronic warfare operation and landed it in Iran. The report did not specify when the seizure occurred. U.S. Central Command called the claim false. Spokesman Tim Hawkins said in an email that the IRGC has repeatedly lied in recent months and weeks. He did not provide further details. Iran made a similar claim in 2011 regarding an RQ-170 Sentinel drone, which U.S. officials attributed to a malfunction.

In Israel, citizens await final election results expected on Thursday evening. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party amplified allegations that Arab-led parties stole the election. Final results are expected to show that Netanyahu's bloc has lost its majority in parliament. No party won the 61 seats needed to control the Knesset, leaving it unclear who will govern. Netanyahu pointed to a request by the elections committee for the Shin Bet intelligence service to investigate alleged interference by foreign entities. The request did not mention Arab-led parties, but Likud said no party should cooperate with them.

In Yemen, the Houthi-run Health Ministry said a Saudi strike killed 12 people and critically wounded three others in Taiz. The victims included women and children. The ministry blamed the strike on two homes belonging to the same family. The Associated Press could not independently verify the report. A separate strike hit a paint factory late Wednesday, according to a Houthi-run human rights body. Yemen’s National Human Rights Authority said the fire could release toxic gases and contaminate nearby soil and groundwater. Taiz province has seen renewed fighting in recent weeks.

In Gaza, an Israeli strike on a civilian vehicle killed two people and wounded another in central Gaza on Thursday. Health officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed the casualties. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. The death toll in Gaza has continued to rise since a ceasefire began in October 2025. The territory's Health Ministry reports that more than 1,550 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and militants.