Iran war: Saudi helicopter crash kills two as tanker attacks threaten Hormuz
The Saudi-led coalition said an AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter crashed in Najran due to a technical malfunction, killing both crew members, and rejected a Houthi claim that the group had shot down a Saudi Apache helicopter near Najran. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said two supertankers struck naval mines on Saturday, triggering fires, and said the Strait of Hormuz remained closed to vessels without Iranian authorisation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had submitted a seven-day proposal through Qatar to reopen the strait if conditions were met, while U.S. Central Command said 97% of vessels attempting to cross had done so without being struck by Iranian projectiles.
Why it matters: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the tanker attacks place energy security at the centre of the widening Iran war, with consequences for regional oil and gas shipments.