Iranian Guard Claims Three Tankers Hit Mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced Friday that three oil tankers struck naval mines and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Guard stated that one of the vessels was a supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of oil. It claimed the ship caught fire while using an unauthorized route through the waterway. This was the third tanker to explode on Friday, according to Iranian state media. The Guard said the vessels had turned off their navigation and positioning systems and ignored radio warnings. It did not name the ships or provide crew details. The U.S. military rejected the mine claims, stating that American forces had cleared all primary transit routes of sea mines.

Oman’s Maritime Security Center reported evacuating 25 crew members from a Panama-flagged tanker. The vessel caught fire 1.6 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam Governorate. It is unclear if this specific incident is one of the three fires described by Iranian authorities. The AP could not independently verify the Iranian reports.

In a separate incident, a Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a drone near Mecca. Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki confirmed the drone originated from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Mecca is Islam’s holiest city and receives millions of pilgrims annually. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied targeting the city. He stated in a statement that the group’s operations focus on Saudi oil facilities and military bases. Saudi Arabia has previously reported intercepting projectiles aimed at Mecca and Medina, with the Houthis denying both targets.

The United Nations reported that displaced people in Yemen have surpassed 281,000 since August 1. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said most civilians fled fighting in Taiz and along the West Coast. A new surge from Lahj province in mid-October indicates the crisis is spreading. OCHA documented 263 civilian casualties as of October 27, including 67 deaths. Children accounted for 97 of the casualties and about half of those killed.

Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian officials. The delegation is led by the Qatari foreign minister and a senior adviser to the prime minister. Iranian state media reported the group is meeting with senior Iranian officials without naming specific individuals. This visit follows a recent letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Tehran acknowledged receipt on Thursday but did not detail its contents. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the letter concerned humanitarian aid rather than peace negotiations. Diplomats said U.S. officials have urged regional allies to prepare for potential renewed military action after next week’s midterm elections.

Israeli forces demolished two homes in Hebron, West Bank, on Friday. The homes belonged to Palestinian gunmen who killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others last week. The attack occurred at Judea Junction. Both gunmen were killed in the subsequent operation. Israel ordered residents to evacuate the neighborhood and closed roads into and out of Hebron. The U.N. humanitarian office said more than 3,000 people were displaced. Mayor Yousef Zuhair Al-Jabari said the operation focused on Deir Bahha and Al-Jalda, disrupting businesses. U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk warned the measures were punitive. He called collective punishment a grave violation of international law and urged displaced residents to be allowed home.