Yemen’s Houthi rebels have captured the strategically important Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the southern Red Sea, strengthening the Iranian-backed group’s ability to influence a vital international shipping corridor.
Elsewhere, Iran has accused Saudi Arabia of influencing Oman’s decision to delay a planned meeting between Tehran and other regional states on the Strait of Hormuz.
In southern Iraq, an ammonia leak at a fertilizer plant killed two people and left more than 100 injured.
Here are the latest developments from across the Middle East. Full coverage can be found here.
Houthi advances add fresh pressure to oil markets
Houthi officials said Monday that their forces had seized the two islands as Saudi-backed government troops sought to regain ground following the rebels’ rapid advances near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The waterway is a critical maritime route and a key alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz in the early days of the war, disrupting a passage that handles roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil and gas during peacetime. Saudi Arabia has since relied on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, to export crude.
The latest Houthi operation follows last week’s capture of the Red Sea port of Mokha and another strategic island. Together, those gains raise the threat to Saudi oil shipments and could further unsettle global crude supplies and prices.
The developments could also hand Iran added leverage in its war with the United States.
China says it is ‘deeply concerned’ by Houthi attacks
China, a major Middle East oil importer, on Monday called Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure “unacceptable” and said it was “deeply concerned” about further escalations by the rebels against Saudi Arabia.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said “attacks on civilian infrastructure that is important to people’s livelihoods are unacceptable.”
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He called on all sides to exercise restraint and resolve disputes through dialogue.
Iran says Saudi Arabia is behind postponed meeting on Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Monday Saudi Arabia had “demanded” that a meeting bringing together Iran with other regional countries to discuss the Strait of Hormuz be scrapped “for the time being.”
Baghaei called the meeting, which was to be hosted by Oman, a “proper opportunity” to restore security in the region.
The spokesman said an agreement between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz has been finalized and it will be announced later.
Saudi Arabia had submitted amendments to the agreement, citing concerns it could have lasting implications for the Strait of Hormuz, negatively impacting other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, according to a Gulf official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Iraq ammonia leak kills 2 and injures over 100
Iraq’s health ministry said Monday an ammonia gas leak at a fertilizer 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, but 21 people remain hospitalized.
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This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.
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