On Friday, the Strait of Hormuz witnessed again a missile attack that killed a sailor who was on board a Royal Greek oil tanker. This comes amid continuing diplomatic efforts seeking to end the war between Iran and the United States, as US President Donald Trump said that his administration is holding talks with representatives of Iran. On the other hand, dozens of people were killed and others were injured in strikes on a popular market in southwestern Yemen, while the Iran-backed Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government exchanged accusations of being behind the attack.

Published on: 06/11/2026 - 22:28

A likely missile attack targeting a Greek-owned oil tanker in the Gulf caused the death of a sailor, according to what the owner company announced on Friday.

For its part, Tehran reported that tankers caught fire after colliding with mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Velos Tankers said on Friday that a sailor was killed Thursday on board a Greek-owned oil tanker belonging to it, in a likely missile attack in the Gulf.

The company, headquartered in Athens, explained in a statement carried by the Greek news agency “ANA” that the tanker, “Philos Sapphire,” flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was heading to Bahrain without cargo when the attack occurred.

It was believed that the explosion was caused by an unknown projectile that struck the rear of the left side of the tanker, sparking a fire.

Read also: Fires in oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and international movements to secure navigation in the region

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said in a statement broadcast on state television earlier, “Two violating oil tankers, one in the eastern Strait of Hormuz and the other inside the Strait of Hormuz. They wanted to cross the unauthorized route, collided with a mine and stopped in the waters” of the Strait.

He added that the two tankers disabled all their navigation and identification systems and attempted to exit the strait "with the support of the aggressor and terrorist American army."

Iran announced on Thursday that fires broke out in five oil tankers and a naval tug while crossing the Strait of Hormuz during the night, as a result of their collision with mines, according to Iranian media.

The British Maritime Trade Operations Authority (UKMTO) reported on Friday that the captain of a tanker that was crossing the strait on Thursday reported an explosion “at the freeboard line on the left side” off Oman.

She added, "The crew is safe... and the tanker is still sailing under its own power and continuing its journey."

Since the outbreak of war in the Middle East on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran has sought to limit shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the oil consumed globally usually passes.

Since then, ships have been trying to cross the strait without obtaining permission from Tehran, by navigating along the Omani coast. Iran considers this a violation of the rules, and regularly threatens to take measures against it.

The United States responded by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports and escorting oil tankers through the strait.

US Central Command said last month that it had helped Gulf states export 1.5 billion barrels of oil through Hormuz since the summer. It was also announced recently that all mines had been removed from the strait.

“We are making very good progress”

Diplomatically, US President Donald Trump said that his administration is holding talks with representatives of Iran.

Speaking to reporters, he added, "We are making very good progress with Iran."

Fighting continues between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia

On the other hand, dozens of people were killed and others were injured on Friday in strikes on a popular market in southwestern Yemen, while the Iran-backed Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government exchanged accusations of being behind the attack.

The strikes took place in Taiz Governorate, where the Houthis have been besieging the city of the same name for weeks.

The Ansar Allah movement controls large areas of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

The intensity of hostilities escalated in September with the Houthis launching an attack that allowed them to control the entire western coast of Yemen and the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait area for maritime navigation between Europe and Asia.

On the other hand, the Saudi-led military coalition, in support of the Yemeni government in its conflict with the Houthis, announced the interception and destruction of a drone in the Makkah Al-Mukarramah region.

Coalition spokesman Turki Al-Maliki said in a post on the X platform that “a drone was intercepted and destroyed in the Makkah Al-Mukarramah region,” without clarifying the source of the attack.

France 24/ Agencies

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