Yemeni officials say the Houthi rebels captured more strategic islands in the southern Red Sea, strengthening their control of a major maritime shipping route.

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have captured a strategic island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait

The rebels were reported Friday to have captured Perim, an island vital to controlling the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

The advance comes after the Houthis captured the strategic port city of Mokha Thursday farther north along Yemen’s Red Sea.

The Iran-backed Houthis seized control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast and captured three strategic islands on Friday, in a lightning offensive that cemented their hold on a vital…