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US disables vessel, Houthi hits tankers, Brent tops $100

7/25/2026

50 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

U.S. forces disabled ship M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored warnings.
Drones were shot down over Erbil with no casualties.
Houthi rebels said they hit two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, prompting President Donald Trump to vow “major punishment.”
Brent crude rose above $100 barrel then fell to $96 after two Chinese supertankers cleared the Bab el-Mandeb.

History

Historical Context

After Iraq’s 1984 attacks on Iranian oil facilities sparked Iran’s retaliation against Kuwaiti and Saudi tankers, the United States launched Operation Earnest Will in March 1987, escorting over 1,000 vessels and later striking Iranian targets in the 1988 Praying Mantis raid. The same strategic vulnerability resurfaces today as U.S. forces disabled the M/T Lavine and Houthi missiles hit Saudi tankers, pushing Brent crude above $100 a barrel.

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Story summary

U.S. forces disabled ship M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored warnings.
Drones were shot down over Erbil with no casualties.
Houthi rebels said they hit two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, prompting President Donald Trump to vow “major punishment.”
Brent crude rose above $100 barrel then fell to $96 after two Chinese supertankers cleared the Bab el-Mandeb.

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