Yemen's Houthi rebels have seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea, significantly enhancing their ability to control a key maritime shipping route. Houthi officials announced the takeover on Monday, coinciding with efforts by Saudi-backed government forces to regain territory amid the rebels' rapid advances around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait serves as a crucial alternative shipping route to the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the world's oil and gas transits during peacetime. Saudi Arabia has been utilizing the Bab el-Mandeb for its crude oil exports since Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the conflict.
The Houthi seizure of the Hanish islands, following their capture of the Red Sea port of Mokha and another strategic island last week, intensifies pressure on Saudi shipments. This development could potentially affect global oil supplies and prices, and may grant Iran additional leverage in its conflict with the United States.
China, a significant importer of Middle Eastern oil, expressed concern over the escalating situation, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stating that attacks on essential civilian infrastructure are "unacceptable." He urged all parties to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue.
In parallel developments, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated on Monday that Saudi Arabia had requested the postponement of a meeting with Iran and other regional countries intended to discuss the Strait of Hormuz. Baghaei described the meeting, which was to be hosted by Oman, as a "proper opportunity" to restore regional security. An agreement between Iran and Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly been finalized and is awaiting announcement.
According to a Gulf official familiar with the matter, Saudi Arabia had proposed amendments to the agreement, citing potential long-term implications for the Strait of Hormuz that could negatively affect other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Separately, Iran has denounced Austria's refusal to issue visas to its nuclear chief and other delegation members for the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference in Vienna, labeling the decision "completely unjustified." Baghaei stated that Austria, as the host nation, is obligated to issue visas and accused Western countries, particularly the U.S., of pressuring Austria to deny them. This visa denial is reportedly part of U.N. sanctions against Iran, which include a travel ban on Iranian officials.
Last week, the U.N. atomic watchdog's board referred Iran to the U.N. Security Council for the first time in two decades, citing the country's failure to cooperate with an investigation into uranium traces found at undeclared sites.
In the occupied West Bank, the human rights group B'Tselem released a report accusing Israel of a systematic and accelerated effort to dismantle Palestinian existence. The report claims that Israeli actions by settlers and the military are designed to undermine Palestinian collective life and entrench Jewish supremacy. The group notes a surge in settler violence under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, with allegations that the military often fails to intervene or, in some instances, participates in protecting settlers. The report indicates that as of July, Israel had taken control of a significant portion of the West Bank through "armed settler militias," a move widely considered illegal by the international community.
In Iraq, an ammonia gas leak at a fertilizer plant in the southern province of Basra resulted in two deaths and injured 114 people, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Health. Most of the injuries were reported as minor, though 21 individuals remain hospitalized.