Houthis Take Two Red Sea Islands as Iran Blames Saudi Arabia for Talks Delay

Yemen's Houthi rebels have seized the islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea, a move that strengthens the Iranian-backed group's ability to control a key maritime shipping route.

Houthi officials said the two islands were taken as forces loyal to the Saudi-backed government attempted to recover territory lost during the rebels' rapid advances around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The waterway is a vital alternative shipping lane to the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest takeover follows the Houthis' capture of the Red Sea port of Mokha and another strategic island last week. Together, the gains increase pressure on Saudi crude shipments and, by extension, on global oil supplies and prices, while potentially giving Iran more leverage in its war with the United States.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas normally passes, since the opening days of the conflict. Saudi Arabia has since relied on Bab el-Mandeb, at the outlet of the Red Sea, for its crude exports.

China, a major importer of Middle Eastern oil, said it was "deeply concerned" about further Houthi escalation against Saudi Arabia. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun described attacks on civilian infrastructure important to people's livelihoods as "unacceptable" and urged all sides to exercise restraint and settle disputes through dialogue.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Saudi Arabia had asked that a meeting hosted by Oman — bringing Iran together with other regional countries to discuss the Strait of Hormuz — be postponed "for the time being." Baghaei called the gathering a "proper opportunity" to restore regional security.

He said an agreement between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz has been finalised and will be announced later. According to a Gulf official familiar with the matter, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, Saudi Arabia had submitted amendments to the agreement, citing concerns that it could have lasting implications for the Strait of Hormuz and negatively affect other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

In Iraq, the health ministry said an ammonia gas leak at a fertiliser plant in the southern province of Basra killed two people and injured 114 others. Health Ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr said most of the injuries were minor, though 21 people remained hospitalised.