Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran strikes tankers, US bases as Gulf conflict escalates Lebanon, Israel hold talks in Rome; Iraqi PM Zaidi to meet Trump; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Yemen’s Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa airport: What to know The Yemeni government claimed that its armed forces struck the Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, while the Houthis accused the government's ally, Saudi Arabia, of carrying out the strikes. Yemen
Analysis Saudi-UAE payment blocks could imperil billions in trade: What to know Delayed bank transfers from Saudi Arabia to accounts in the United Arab Emirates could suggest the rivalry between the region's largest economies is entering a new financial phase. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Carney bets on Saudi Arabia to help reduce dependence on US: What to know Canada is seeking to diversify away from the United States, with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states offering key energy and industrial benefits. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Analysis How Iran war shaped divergent paths to security among GCC states By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Saudi Arabia seeks Yemen reconciliation to subdue Houthis After months of fierce fighting in Omran, the city fell under the control of armed Houthis, while Saudi Arabia was seeking to achieve national reconciliation in Yemen. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia toughens stance on jihadist groups Saudi Arabia is responding to widespread accusations that it is supporting extremist groups by publicly toughening its rhetoric against jihadists. Saudi Arabia
Could Maliki's departure spur Lebanon’s presidential election? Many Lebanese are looking for signs that the departure of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Iraq will lead to progress in Lebanon's presidential race, but diplomatic sources are quick to downplay any such hopes. Saudi Arabia
Can Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE form Arab security alliance? With the Islamic State (IS) out to change the regional order, Gulf states ought to establish a security alliance to prevent this from happening. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia and the third Gaza war Saudi Arabia has remained quiet during the current Gaza war, working instead through Egypt. Saudi Arabia
UAE tries to scuttle Qatar-Saudi reconciliation There are signs that ties between Qatar and Saudi Arabia are improving, but the United Arab Emirates is maintaining a hard-line position on Doha, threatening Gulf reconciliation. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia losing influence in Yemen Saudi Arabia once enjoyed unrivalled influence in Yemen, but the transition of power and breakdown of state have allowed other foreign powers, particularly Qatar and Iran, to get a stake in Yemeni affairs. Saudi Arabia
New alliances for a 2015 Middle East peace conference? The Gaza conflict demonstrates that Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Saudi Arabia share common regional interests, which could lead them to an international peace conference based on the Arab League's peace initiative. Saudi Arabia
Cease-fire initiatives pit Turkey against Egypt Is Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan more concerned with undermining Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi than to broker a cease-fire in Gaza? Saudi Arabia
Saudis see Houthi gains in Yemen as advance for Iran Many Saudis are interpreting the Houthis’ sudden advance toward the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, as a message from Iran that it will not tolerate a Sunni Islamist advance on Baghdad. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia denies visas to Egyptian pilgrims As Saudi authorities denied Umrah visas to more than 50,000 Egyptians, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism says the crisis with Saudi Arabia is being solved. Saudi Arabia
ISIS should be catalyst for new Middle East alliance The author, who served as a minister in several Israeli governments and as a brigadier general in the Israel Defense Forces, makes the case for an Israel-Saudi Arabia-Egypt alliance, anchored in an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. Saudi Arabia