Houthis Capture Crucial Red Sea Islands, Threatening Global Oil Supplies

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have made significant gains in their ongoing conflict against Saudi-backed forces, capturing crucial Red Sea islands. The group announced on Monday that they had seized Greater and Lesser Hanish Island, which bolsters their ability to choke traffic in another key global maritime shipping route.

The strategic advance comes as Saudi-backed Yemeni forces try to regain territory recently lost near the Bab el-Mandab Strait, an important alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. The closure of the Hormuz Strait has led to a global economic and energy emergency, driving up prices around the world and forcing petro-monarchy Saudi Arabia to move its oil exports through Bab el-Mandab.

The Houthis have declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and last week seized strategic Mayun Island and the Red Sea port of Mokha. The capture of Greater and Lesser Hanish now puts even more pressure on Saudi shipments and thus global oil supplies and prices.