Houthi rebels seize two strategic Red Sea islands from Yemeni government

In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have captured the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea, according to officials. The islands, previously controlled by the UAE and its allies, are near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route for Saudi oil. The advance follows recent Houthi gains and has displaced nearly 94,000 people, with over 2,000 fleeing to Djibouti. The U.S. has a military base nearby, and the conflict has raised fears of a return to full-scale civil war.