Houthi rebels in Yemen have taken two islands in the southern Red Sea.

The islands are Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish.

This helps the rebels control an important shipping route.

The rebels are backed by Iran.

Houthi officials said this on Monday.

They said government forces tried to take back land near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The government is backed by Saudi Arabia.

A Saudi oil pipeline was hit in an attack last week.

Repairs could take three to five weeks.

Two local officials said this.

They did not give their names.

One official said the East-West Pipeline may work a little during repairs.

The Houthis also took the Red Sea port of Mokha.

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

China buys a lot of oil from the Middle East.

China called the Houthi attacks on Saudi energy sites "unacceptable."

China 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 about the Strait of Hormuz be cancelled "for the time being."

The International Organization for Migration said almost 94,000 people have left their homes in Yemen this month.

This is because fighting has gotten worse.

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 doing a project to "dismantle the foundations of Palestinian existence" in the occupied West Bank.