Houthi rebels capture Red Sea islands controlling global shipping route

Yemen's Houthi rebels have taken control of several islands in the Red Sea. These include Greater and Lesser Hanish and Perim Island, which sits in the Bab al-Mandab strait. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, captured these islands during fighting with Saudi-backed government forces. They had already taken the port of Mokha before these latest gains. The Bab al-Mandab strait is one of the world's most important shipping routes. Saudi Arabia uses it to export crude oil. If the Houthis block this route, global oil supplies could be affected and energy prices could rise. Around one-fifth of the world's oil and gas normally passes through a nearby strait called Hormuz during peacetime.