Saudi-led forces capture Yemen island at 'oil choke point'

A strategically important Red Sea island has been re-captured by Saudi-led forces from Houthi rebels.

Jazirat al-Hanish al-Kabir lies close to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the busiest routes for oil and cargo shipping in the world.

Bab al-Mandeb has been described as one of the "global oil choke points", linking Asia and Europe, which has made it a critically important theatre of conflict in the Yemen war.

Ships carrying around 3.8 million barrels pass through these waters each day.

Saudia Arabia national television said on Thursday that Saudi-led forces had "cleansed Greater Hanish" of rebels.

Saudi press also said that the island had been controlled by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and used by rebel Houthi forces for storing weapons on a smuggling route to the mainland.

The islands have been a point of contention with Red Sea neighbour Eritrea, which led to three days of fighting between the two militaries in 1995.

This led to an international court determining that most of the Hanish islands belong to Yemen, three days later.

Peace talks between forces allied to Yemen President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and Houthi rebels are expected to take place next week in Switzerland.

Yemen's Vice-President Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi said on Wednesday that he expected a seven-day ceasefire to begin on 15 December, according to Reuters.

However, pro-Hadi groups have reacted in anger at the Houthis appointing Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim as their field commander in Yemen.

They said that appointing Hakim so close to the peace deal was "provocative".

Millions have been displaced after months of fighting in Yemen has left a death toll above 6,000.

Meanwhile, the beseiged city of Taiz is suffering from chronic shortages of food and medicine.

Gulf states have backed President Hadi diplomatically and with joint air raids and a combined land force.

A meeting between Gulf leaders in the Saudi capital Riyadh concluded on Thursday, with the war in Yemen taking a leading role in discussions.

Gulf states have called for an international reconstruction conference to take place once a peace deal is struck between warring parties.