On September 14-15, 2026, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea, significantly strengthening their control over a major shipping route. The seizure was accompanied by a new wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia on September 15, with airstrikes killing 3 civilians, escalating regional tensions.
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Yemeni officials say the Houthi rebels captured more strategic islands in the southern Red Sea, strengthening their control of a major maritime shipping route.
Yemen's Houthi rebels seize more key islands in southern Red Sea, tighten grip on shipping routes AP News
Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels capture more key islands in the Red Sea, strengthening their control of a major maritime shipping route, according to officials.
Houthis seize 2 strategic Red Sea islands, and other Mideast developments AP News
Yemen's Houthi rebels have seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea.
this outlet adds: move, strengthens, control, maritime, shipping, route
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have tightened their grip on a key shipping route, capturing two strategic Red Sea islands. The closure of another global transport route is the latest ripple effect of the US war with Iran.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have seized two strategic islands in the Red Sea, reinforcing the Iran-backed group’s ability to control a key shipping route, as concerns mount that the world is facing a new oil supply crisis.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have launched a new wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia, the group claimed Monday, and also seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea, bolstering the rebels' ability to control a key maritime shipping route.
The escalation comes after the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized another two strategic islands in the southern Red Sea.