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
France's seizure of Iranian weapons to Yemen is a win for Pentagon French forces seized some 3,000 assault rifles, 23 anti-tank rockets and more than half a million rounds of ammunition bound for Yemen's Houthi rebels. Iran
Analysis 'Saudi first' propels shift toward strings-attached aid policy Saudi Arabia's announcement of conditional foreign aid is being seen as a move by the kingdom to stand up to global pressures and conduct itself with more autonomy. By Salim A. Essaid
Two Yemen YouTubers in detention, put on trial by Houthis Courts run by the Houthis have been used to settle scores with opponents, especially media activists accusing the group of corruption. Gulf
Al-Monitor/Premise poll: Majority in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia on edge over food access In an exclusive poll in five countries across the Middle East and North Africa, 68% majority of the population worried about their ability to access food. By Al-Monitor Staff
Women's campaign in Yemen protests Houthi dress code rules Houthi forces require women to wear a black abaya that covers their entire bodies. Gulf
Breaking | Last Updated: January 10, 2023, 9:54 am US Navy seizes load of rifles smuggled from Iran to Yemen Navy officials say the sea drones deployed by the Fifth Fleet's experimental Task Force 59 are contributing to their ability to monitor Middle Eastern waterways, but won't credit the units with enabling any specific seizures just yet. Gulf
Iranian, Saudi FMs meet in Jordan after months of stalled dialogue The Iranian-Saudi dialogue stalled earlier this year amid the protests in Iran and political tensions in Iraq. Iran
Yemenis' passion for soccer undimmed by war The seven-year war in Yemen has not wiped out the people's passion for soccer, and the Yemenis' reaction to the World Cup in Qatar is proof. Gulf
US urges Iran-backed Houthis to halt attacks on Yemen's ports The warning to the Houthis comes as US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking returns to the region to push for peace between the country's warring sides. Yemen
US Navy seizes load of missile fuel going from Iran to Yemen The 70-ton haul suggests the US Navy's yearslong game of cat-and-mouse with Iran-backed arms traffickers in the Gulf of Oman is beginning to pay off. Gulf
Yemenis tremble as cease-fire extension fails With the truce expired in Yemen, a return to full-blown war has horrified humanitarian organizations and Yemeni civilians alike. Gulf
US urges Yemen's Houthis to extend truce amid fears of renewed fighting The United States is seeking the renewal of a nationwide truce that brought a much-needed pause in violence to Yemen before it expired on Sunday. Yemen