Middle East Escalation: Iranian Strikes Hit US Aircraft in Jordan, Brent Crude Tops $107 After Houthi Seizure of Mokha

Today is Day 195 of the US-Iran war. And September 11, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most serious days of the conflict so far. Iranian forces have damaged US military aircraft at a base in Jordan. The Houthis have seized a Red Sea port near one of the world’s most important shipping straits. Saudi Arabia’s oil pipeline may have been hit. Two vessels were struck near Oman’s Khasab. And oil just crossed $107 a barrel. Here is everything that happened overnight.

US Aircraft Damaged at Jordan Base

Iranian forces struck Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. Several US military aircraft were damaged in the attack. According to people with direct knowledge of the incident cited by CBS News, an A-10 attack aircraft lost a wing. Around eight F-15 fighter jets also took light damage but were returned to service. No US deaths were reported. US forces fired more than 30 Patriot interceptor missiles during the strikes to defend the base. Iran’s IRGC claimed it attacked eight tankers and two US warships in the same overnight operation. The Jordanian base incident is the most significant direct damage to US military hardware since the conflict began. Inside the US military, there is growing concern about declining stocks of defensive missiles and precision munitions after months of near-daily interception operations. If you receive unknown calls from people claiming to offer currency exchange, gold pricing updates, or investment services linked to the regional conflict, always verify first. Use the Who Called Me From This Number UAE tool to check any unfamiliar number before sharing your details.

Houthis Seize Mokha Port — Oil Tops $107

The Houthis have taken control of Yemen’s Red Sea port of Mokha, near the Bab Al Mandeb Strait. This is a very big deal. The Bab Al Mandeb handles around 10 per cent of global oil supplies. Combined with the Strait of Hormuz being effectively shut at the other end of the Arabian Peninsula, that means two of the world’s most critical energy shipping lanes are now under serious threat simultaneously. Markets reacted immediately. Brent crude jumped 6.34 per cent to $107.6 a barrel as of early Friday morning Tokyo time. US benchmark WTI gained 1.48 per cent to $104 a barrel. Saudi Arabia, which normally exports much of its oil to Asian buyers through Bab Al Mandeb, had already started rerouting cargoes through the Mediterranean after earlier Houthi attacks. With Mokha now in Houthi hands, that rerouting is no longer optional. It is the only viable path. The Houthis also control Mayun Island near Mokha, which sits directly inside the Bab Al Mandeb passage. That gives them the ability to disrupt or block the strait entirely if they choose. Managing your finances during a week of economic shocks from oil and energy markets is always smart. A quick FAB Balance Check Online lets you check your account balance from your phone without visiting a branch, so you stay on top of your money no matter what is happening in the news.

Two Vessels Hit Near Oman’s Khasab

Late on Thursday September 10, four unidentified projectiles struck two vessels approximately four nautical miles west of Khasab in Oman. One of the vessels caught fire. The condition of the second was not immediately known. The UK Maritime Trade Operations issued Warning 133-26 at 1910 UTC confirming the incident. Khasab is at the tip of the Musandam Peninsula, which sits directly inside the Strait of Hormuz. An attack here is an attack at the very entrance to the most critical oil shipping lane in the world. Nobody claimed responsibility immediately, but the location and method are consistent with Iranian or Iranian-proxy operations that have been targeting commercial shipping throughout the conflict.

Saudi Pipeline May Have Been Hit

Satellite imagery and fire detection data are raising serious questions about whether the Houthis have struck Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline. A large smoke plume was visible over the desert southeast of Medina, along the general route of the pipeline toward Mahd adh-Dhahab. NASA’s FIRMS satellite fire detection system showed clustered thermal anomalies in the same area. No independent confirmation that the pipeline itself was hit has been made yet. Saudi Arabia has not commented. The East-West pipeline is a critical piece of Saudi oil infrastructure. It allows Saudi Arabia to move crude from the Gulf to the Red Sea coast, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz entirely. If it has been struck, the strategic importance of that damage cannot be overstated. Staying connected for breaking news alerts from the Gulf is more important than ever during a week like this. Take a moment to check How to Check Balance in Etisalat to make sure your phone stays active for every major update.

Saudi Arabia Activates Early Warning Systems

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence activated early warning systems in Abha and Khamis Mushait in the southwestern Asir region on Thursday night. Residents were told to follow official instructions and remain alert to further warnings. Both cities have been targeted multiple times in Houthi cross-border attacks over the years and the activation of early warning systems indicates that Saudi authorities had credible intelligence of an incoming threat. Houthi forces launched a major wave of missile and drone attacks across southern Saudi Arabia on September 8, striking areas around Jazan, Abha, Najran and Khamis Mushait. Saudi Arabia has since carried out retaliatory strikes in Yemen. That exchange is still ongoing.

What This Means for the UAE and the Region

The UAE is not a direct target in any of this. But the economic consequences are already arriving. Oil above $107 a barrel means higher fuel prices globally, tighter household budgets, and increased pressure on businesses that rely on logistics and shipping. The closure of Hormuz and the threat to Bab Al Mandeb together represent something with no recent parallel. Two of the world’s most important energy transit points are under threat at the same time. Global shipping companies are rerouting around Africa. Insurance rates for Gulf vessels are at record highs. The situation is deteriorating and there is no ceasefire in sight. Day 195 has been one of the worst days of this conflict. More updates are expected throughout the day.

The Middle East conflict is now in a more dangerous phase than at any point since it began. For the latest news and useful UAE guides, visit Ever List.