- July 23, 2026
- 2:25 pm
- Israel, Middle East
On the night of July 23, 2026, the Middle Eastern conflict escalated to a new level. The United States continued massive strikes on Iranian territory, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps effectively declared its intention to control tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, and Tehran-backed Houthis attacked Saudi oil vessels in the Red Sea.
The region faced the threat of simultaneous disruption of shipping in two key points of global trade — the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The former provides an outlet for oil exporters of the Persian Gulf, while the latter connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and further with the Indian Ocean.
The ongoing events can no longer be viewed as a separate confrontation between Washington and Tehran. The conflict is spreading to Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the Gulf states, and international maritime routes, simultaneously creating new threats for Israel.
The US used the B-1 for the first time since the resumption of hostilities
American forces conducted their twelfth consecutive night of strikes on Iran. According to Israeli and American sources, the long-range strategic bomber B-1B Lancer was used for the first time since the resumption of hostilities.
The aircraft was used to strike targets of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The B-1 is capable of carrying a large number of heavy aviation munitions and cruise missiles, so its appearance over the region indicates not only the continuation of the operation but also its expansion.
The strikes were accompanied by reports of explosions in several areas of Iran. In particular, explosions were recorded in the port city of Konarak in the southeast of the country, as well as in Sirik, Bushehr, and Mahshahr. These areas are of strategic importance due to nearby military facilities, oil infrastructure, and maritime routes.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran regularly sends signals of a desire to negotiate but constantly changes its position and is not ready to sign an agreement. According to Rubio, the American administration intends to increase the cost of Tehran’s refusal to make a deal.
US President Donald Trump also claims that Iran is not yet ready for an agreement but may change its position under ongoing military and economic pressure. Meanwhile, the diplomatic channel officially remains open, although strikes on Iranian targets continue.
In fact, Washington is using a dual tactic: on one hand, offering negotiations, and on the other, systematically destroying Iran’s military infrastructure and increasing pressure on the country’s maritime communications.
Houthis open a new front in the Red Sea
Simultaneously with American strikes, Iran-backed Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia and began attacking ships linked to Saudi ports.
A representative of the Houthi military wing, Yahya Sari, announced strikes on two oil tankers — Encelia and Layla. According to him, ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, were used for the attack.
One of the tankers was carrying about 500,000 barrels of oil. Saudi state media confirmed the attack on a vessel in the Red Sea. A fire broke out in its bow, but all crew members survived and were not seriously injured.
The Houthis claim that after the blockade was imposed, they managed to force about ten ships to change course. It is currently impossible to independently confirm this figure, but international agencies report that several tankers carrying Saudi oil to Asian countries have indeed turned around or started changing routes.
As early as July 20, a Houthi-linked coordination center sent a warning to shipping companies. It contained a demand not to enter Saudi ports and not to load goods there. Violators were threatened with sanctions and strikes regardless of where the ship would subsequently be located.
Thus, the Houthis are trying to shift the war from Yemeni territory to international maritime routes and Saudi oil infrastructure. Their formula of ‘blockade in response to blockade’ means that ships can become targets not because of their affiliation with Israel or the US, but because of the mere fact of cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
Two straits on which the world economy depends
The main danger is that two of the most important maritime corridors are simultaneously under threat.
Through the Strait of Hormuz pass tankers from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. The Iranian IRGC declared that no tanker should enter or exit the strait without coordination with the Iranian side. Tehran also claims that some southern routes may have been mined.
Simultaneously, the Houthis are creating a threat in the area of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, through which ships from the Red Sea exit to the Indian Ocean. For Saudi Arabia, this route is especially important as it allows oil exports from the port of Yanbu, located on the Red Sea coast, without using the Strait of Hormuz.
If Iran restricts movement in the east and the Houthis in the west, Saudi Arabia and other exporters find themselves in a kind of maritime pincer. Tankers have to go around Africa, which increases the duration of voyages, the cost of fuel, insurance, and cargo delivery.
NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes that it’s not just about the cost of oil. Disruption of the operation of the two straits can affect prices for fuel, food, industrial goods, air transportation, and maritime logistics in many countries, including Israel.
After the Houthi attacks and another round of confrontation between the US and Iran, oil prices approached the psychologically important mark of $100 per barrel. The market is reacting not so much to the current shortage of oil as to the likelihood of prolonged route closures for its delivery.
Iran threatens the energy of the Gulf countries
Tehran warns that American strikes on Iranian bridges and power plants will receive a response far beyond Iran’s borders.
The commander of the IRGC Aerospace Forces, Majid Musavi, stated that in the event of attacks on Iran’s civilian and energy infrastructure, Tehran may strike at the energy systems of American allies in the Persian Gulf.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are under potential threat. Many of these countries host American military facilities, command centers, airfields, and supply bases.
Such a strategy allows Iran to create pressure on Washington through its regional partners. Even if Tehran avoids a direct large-scale strike on US territory, attacks on bases, power plants, refineries, and water facilities can force Arab states to demand the cessation of the American operation.
Simultaneously, Iran uses allied armed structures. Houthis in Yemen can attack the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia, Shia formations in Iraq — American targets, and other groups — create additional points of tension closer to Israel.
How this affects Israel
While Israel is not formally involved in the new stage of the American operation, the country’s security system is on high alert. Israeli security forces believe that before a direct confrontation with Israel, Iran may try to use its regional allies and proxies.
The most immediate threat comes from the Houthis. The deployment of missiles and strike drones on the Yemeni coast allows them to threaten not only Saudi ships and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait but also southern Israel, the port of Eilat, and the maritime routes used by the Israeli economy.
The second problem is the expansion of the geography of the war. If Iran strikes the Gulf states, Israel may face a wave of drone and missile launches passing through the airspace of several countries. This will require coordination with American forces and Arab states that previously participated in the regional warning and interception system.
The third risk is related to the economy. The redirection of maritime shipments, the rise in insurance rates, and the increase in oil prices can raise the cost of fuel and imported goods in Israel. Eilat remains particularly sensitive, as its significance directly depends on the security of the Red Sea.
Finally, the crisis calls into question the further rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is interested in protection from Iran and the Houthis but simultaneously tries not to become an open participant in the war on the side of Israel or the US.
Saudi nuclear program changes the balance of power
Amid the war, the US and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on July 22, 2026, on cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, known as the 123 Agreement.
The US Department of Energy calls it the foundation of a multi-year and multi-billion-dollar partnership. American companies will be able to participate in the creation of Saudi nuclear energy and supply technologies for future reactors.
However, the document raises serious questions. It opens the possibility of creating infrastructure in Saudi Arabia for uranium enrichment after conducting joint research. Moreover, Riyadh has not committed to immediately adopting the IAEA Additional Protocol, which provides for the most stringent checks and surprise inspections.
Critics of the agreement believe it could create a dangerous precedent. If Saudi Arabia gains the right to independently enrich uranium, other regional states may demand similar capabilities. Particularly important are previous statements by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the kingdom will not be left without nuclear weapons if Iran creates them.
For Israel, a complex situation arises. On one hand, Saudi Arabia is a potential partner and opponent of Iran. On the other, the emergence of another state with uranium enrichment technologies can change the entire regional security balance.
The Middle East enters the most dangerous phase of the war
The events of July 22–23 show that the confrontation is no longer limited to US strikes on Iranian targets. Iran responds with threats to shipping, energy, and American bases, while its affiliated formations open additional fronts.
The Houthis are trying to block Saudi ports. The IRGC declares control over the Strait of Hormuz. The US intensifies bombings while simultaneously offering negotiations. Saudi Arabia strengthens ties with Washington and gains a foundation for its nuclear program.
Each participant tries to improve their positions before possible negotiations, but the cumulative result of these actions increases the likelihood of uncontrolled escalation.
A single successful strike on a major oil terminal, American base, power plant, or tanker with a large number of casualties is enough for the current confrontation to turn into a wide regional war.
For Israel, this means the need to simultaneously prepare for missile and drone attacks, protect maritime routes, maintain coordination with the US, and prevent the destruction of the emerging system of relations with Arab states.
NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency will continue to monitor the development of the situation, as the struggle for the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea has already become a struggle for the future security system of the entire Middle East.