Houthis Gain Control of Strategic Red Sea Islands
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have gained control of two strategic islands in the Red Sea, putting more pressure on Saudi oil shipments and global oil supplies. The rebels seized the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands, which are crucial for maritime shipping routes.
This development comes as Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas transits in peacetime. The Saudis have since used the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, leading out of the Red Sea, for crude oil exports.
China has expressed concern over the Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, calling them 'unacceptable'. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged restraint and resolution through dialogue. Meanwhile, Iran accused Saudi Arabia of demanding that a meeting to discuss the Strait of Hormuz be postponed.