Yemen’s Houthi rebels have seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea.

The takeover strengthens the Iran-backed rebels’ ability to control a key maritime shipping route.

Houthi officials said Monday that the rebels took the islands.

This happened as Saudi-backed government forces tried to regain territory around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Repairs to a crucial Saudi oil pipeline struck in an attack last week could take three to five weeks.

Two regional officials said this.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

One said the East-West Pipeline may work partially during repairs.

The Houthis’ recent seizures, including the Red Sea port of Mokha, put more pressure on Saudi shipments and global oil supplies.

China, a major Middle East oil importer, called Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure “unacceptable.”

It said it was “deeply concerned” about further escalations by the rebels.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Saudi Arabia had “demanded” that a meeting on the Strait of Hormuz be scrapped “for the time being.”

The International Organization for Migration said nearly 94,000 people have fled their homes in Yemen since fighting escalated this month.

The World Health Organization said more than 500 people were killed in the week ending Saturday.

Israeli strikes across Gaza on Monday killed two people, hospital officials and the health ministry said.

The B’Tselem human rights group said Israel is carrying out a project to “dismantle the foundations of Palestinian existence” in the occupied West Bank.