Yemen’s Houthi rebels have taken the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish.

These islands are in the southern Red Sea.

This takeover makes it easier for the Iran-backed rebels to control a key shipping route.

Houthi officials said on Monday that the rebels took the islands.

At the same time, Saudi-backed government forces tried to take back land around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Repairs to an important Saudi oil pipeline could take three to five weeks.

The pipeline was hit in an attack last week.

Two regional officials said this.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

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

The Houthis have recently taken more areas, including the Red Sea port of Mokha.

This puts more pressure on Saudi shipments and global oil supplies.

China is a major oil importer in the Middle East.

It called Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure “unacceptable.”

It said it was “deeply concerned” about more attacks by the rebels.

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

The International Organization for Migration said nearly 94,000 people have fled their homes in Yemen.

This has happened since fighting increased 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 this.

The B’Tselem human rights group said Israel is carrying out a project.

It aims to “dismantle the foundations of Palestinian existence” in the occupied West Bank.