A Saudi Aramco administrative building in Dhahran was targeted overnight as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify. Iran's Revolutionary Guard chief said Tehran wants to sink American warships near the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. Central Command said American forces control the waterway.
Saudi officials said Wednesday that an administrative building belonging to Saudi Aramco was targeted overnight. The Tehran-backed Houthi militants are stepping up their attacks on the kingdom.
The strike caused a fire, but no injuries were reported at the site in Dhahran, according to the Saudi Ministry of Energy. Meanwhile, the Houthis have launched a series of strikes on Saudi targets over the past week, and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport remains closed until Saturday after airport attacks.
Iran's Guard chief threatens U.S. warships
Iran Revolutionary Guard chief Ali Ozmaei said Wednesday that Tehran is "counting the moments" until it can sink American warships, according to Iranian state-affiliated media. He reportedly said Iran is waiting for U.S. warships to approach the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
However, U.S. Central Command refuted Iranian claims that the strait is under Iran's control. It said U.S. forces and regional partners control the waterway, and that the day before, U.S. forces assisted Gulf partners in shipping more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through it.
Shipping reports and Trump's election pledge
On Wednesday, reports emerged that a cargo ship caught fire and sank in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine. CNBC could not independently verify them. Later, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said a verified source reported that a container ship had been struck by an unknown projectile.
Separately, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that American forces would not attack Iran before the midterm election on Nov. 3. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Iran has been strengthening defenses around sensitive locations such as nuclear sites.
Source: CNBC
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