Saudi defense chief meets Khamenei in historic Iran visit: What to know Prince Khalid’s visit marks a further step in Iran and Saudi Arabia’s political reconciliation, but it comes at a tense time in the region, with the second round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations just two days away. Saudi Arabia
US approves $400M deal to upgrade Kuwait’s Patriot air defenses The planned recertification marks Washington’s latest show of military support for Gulf Arab states, as the US prepares for a potential confrontation with Iran over its nuclear enrichment program. United States
Top US general calls out Houthi-Shabaab ties across Yemen-Somalia strait The Pentagon has opened the aperture on al-Shabaab in recent months, allowing AFRICOM to ramp up strikes on the al-Qaeda offshoot in the Horn of Africa. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
US sanctions Russia-based network for aiding Houthis as strikes continue The sanctions target several individuals based in Russia accused of assisting Houthi official Sa’id al-Jamal, who has been under US sanctions since 2021. Yemen
Analysis Can US halt Houthi attacks without getting embroiled in Gaza, Yemen wars? By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis Wary of Houthis, Gulf states fear blowback of US escalation in Yemen By Jennifer Gnana In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics
Updated: US disputes UN report on capture of Al-Qaeda’s top man in Yemen The report said Khalid Batarfi was handed over to Saudi authorities, yet a US officials says he's still at large. Saudi Arabia
Saudis praise Biden after president draws line on Yemen, arms deals During a speech promising to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with allies, Biden announced the end of US support for Saudi-led operations in Yemen. Saudi Arabia
Biden to end US support for offensive operations in Yemen President Joe Biden also appointed a special envoy for the war-wrecked country. Yemen
US terror designation of Houthis: a fresh ordeal in Yemen Despite warnings by human rights groups, the previous US administration designated Yemen’s Houthis a terrorist organization, which locals fear will only add to their misery. Originals
Blinken: 'Vitally important' to engage with Israel, Gulf on Iran nuclear deal Antony Blinken also said the administration would immediately review the terror designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels. Gulf
Houthi terror designation could set off Yemen’s oil tanker 'time bomb' Experts say the terrorism label will complicate efforts to secure a decaying oil tanker in the Red Sea that could rupture at any moment and unleash another humanitarian and environmental catastrophe. Yemen
Congressional Democrats and Republicans rebuke Trump admin over Houthi terror designation The designation of Yemen's Houthi forces as a foreign terrorist organization has been met with criticism from both the House and the Senate. Yemen
Pompeo to label Yemen's Houthis a foreign terror group Relief organizations in Yemen warn the designation will hamstring their life-saving work in a country already considered to have the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Yemen
Will Yemen's new Cabinet revive economy? Although the road to sustainable economic recovery is teeming with several obstacles at this critical time, the new Yemeni Cabinet that recently arrived in Aden asserts that it will overcome all hurdles and deal with this challenging situation. Yemen
Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen killed 99 civilians in 2020, monitor says According to Mwatana, a majority of the civilians who died in coalition airstrikes last year were women and children. Saudi Arabia
Houthis, Hamas merge diplomacy around prisoner releases Hamas welcomes a Houthi initiative to release two Saudi airmen the Houthis captured in Yemen in exchange for Saudi Arabia freeing 60 Palestinian prisoners, including a Hamas leader and his son. Saudi Arabia
Yemen airport comes under attack as new unity government arrives More than 20 people — but no arriving Cabinet officials — were reported killed. Yemen
