Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Monday said they had captured Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish islands in the southern Red Sea, in a move that could further complicate maritime traffic through one of the region’s key shipping corridors.
The reported seizure comes as the conflict involving Iran continues to widen across the region, with the Houthis escalating their military campaign against Saudi Arabia and targeting areas around the Bab el-Mandab Strait, a critical gateway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The development could increase pressure on Saudi Arabia’s oil-export routes at a time when the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, according to the report. The disruption of the two major maritime corridors would have significant implications for energy markets and global shipping.
The Hanish islands occupy a strategic position in the southern Red Sea. Their reported capture would give the Houthis greater control over maritime approaches and potentially strengthen their ability to monitor or disrupt shipping moving through the region, international news agencies report.
The move follows the reported Houthi seizure last week of Mayun Island and the Red Sea port of Mokha, further expanding the group’s presence along Yemen’s western coastline. The Houthis have also declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and on Monday claimed to have launched missile and drone attacks against Saudi military targets.
A Houthi spokesman said the attacks caused “significant damage” and were carried out in response to what the group described as more than 300 Saudi airstrikes in Yemen over the previous five days. The escalation marks a sharp deterioration in Yemen’s conflict, which had remained largely dormant for several years before the latest regional crisis.
Despite its longstanding support for the Houthis, Iran has denied direct involvement in the renewed fighting in Yemen. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday that Tehran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs and described the Houthis as independent actors who make decisions based on their own interests.
The widening confrontation has also prompted increased US-Saudi coordination. US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper was in Jeddah on Monday for discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the latest regional developments.
According to US media reports, Washington has increased intelligence-sharing and targeting assistance to Saudi Arabia, although US President Donald Trump has reportedly declined a Saudi request for direct US military intervention against the Houthis.
Meanwhile, Iran accused Saudi Arabia of delaying talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said a planned meeting in Oman represented an opportunity to restore regional security and claimed that an agreement between Iran and Oman on reopening the waterway had been finalized.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly concerned about the long-term implications of any new arrangement governing the Strait of Hormuz and its potential impact on Gulf Cooperation Council states.
With both Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandab facing heightened security risks, Saudi Arabia’s ability to move crude to Asian markets could become increasingly constrained, potentially forcing greater reliance on longer routes through the Suez Canal or around the Cape of Good Hope.
China on Monday condemned attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure as “unacceptable” and said it was deeply concerned about further escalation.
The reported capture of the Hanish islands therefore adds another layer to an already volatile maritime crisis, raising concerns over the security of vital shipping lanes and the potential impact on global energy supplies and prices.
