Iran, Saudi Arabia agree to reestablish ties after 7 years of tensions
The deal, struck in Beijing this week, represents a major diplomatic victory for the Chinese as Gulf Arab states perceive the U.S. slowly withdrawing from the wider Middle East.
Yemen
Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to restore ties after China-brokered talks
Embassies to reopen in move that could have wide implications for Iran nuclear deal and Yemen warIran and Saudi Arabia, the two great oil-producing rivals of the Middle East, have agreed to restore ties and reopen embassies seven years after relations …
UN seeks greater refugee support from Canada amid ‘enormous’ global needs
The United Nations is bracing for a further increase in the number of refugees this year, as last month’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria adds to a series of crises.
British Royal Navy seizes Iran’s ballistic missile components
British Royal Navy seized “anti-tank guided missiles” and missile components from an Iranian boat that was bound for Yemen, military officials announced Thursday. The operation, which occurred on Feb. 23, 2023, took place in the Gulf of Oma…
UN raises $1.2bn from donors towards $4.3bn Yemen aid plan
Number falls well short of target to respond to one of world’s biggest humanitarian disastersThe United Nations has raised about $1.2bn (£996m) from crisis-strained donors towards its $4.3bn aid plan for Yemen, one of the world’s biggest humanitarian d…
UK court examines legality of resuming Saudi arms sales
DefenceTalkLondon’s High Court on Tuesday examined the legality of a decision by the UK to renew sales of arms to Saudi Arabia that could be used in the war in Yemen. The case has been brought by UK-based NGO, Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), …
Campaigners seek to overturn Liz Truss’s resumption of Saudi arms sales
Lawyers will argue the then trade secretary ignored Saudi air force’s bombing of civilians in YemenAnti-arms trade campaigners will seek to overturn a decision made by Liz Truss to resume UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia, arguing she ignored a pattern of …
The Houthis after the Yemeni cease-fire
In the almost decade-old civil war in Yemen, the adherence to a cease-fire that began in April 2022 by the Shiite Zaydi Houthi rebels suggests they are now prepared to live with a political outcome to the war that leaves them in control of most, but not all, Yemenis. The Houthis seem prepared to settle for less than complete control…
Yemen: 87 civilians killed by UK and US weapons in just over a year
Oxfam says its analysis of January 2021 to February 2022 underlines need for UK to stop arming Saudi ArabiaAt least 87 civilians were killed by airstrikes from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen using weapons supplied by the UK and US between January 202…
Houthis warn Saudi Arabia, UAE of more attacks as MbS seeking a way out of “Yemen quagmire”
Yemen’s Ansarullah movement says the Saudi-led coalition has exploited a UN-sponsored truce to tighten the brutal blockade against the war-wracked country, stressing that it won’t allow the status quo to persist, and will inevitably launch missile str…