UN warns Yemen has returned to full-scale war amid rising civilian toll
United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg told the Security Council that the country has slid back into full-scale war as fighting between the Houthis and internationally recognised government forces intensifies. He said civilians, including women and children, are bearing the brunt of the violence, and urged council members to support mediation efforts. The warning came during a Security Council meeting on Friday to discuss the situation in Yemen.Grundberg said regional instability continues to affect Yemen, while developments inside Yemen are also reverberating across the region. He said regional security, freedom of navigation and the protection of international trade... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
FlyDubai co-pilot allegedly planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport, UAE prosecutor says
A FlyDubai co-pilot from Oman allegedly planned to seize a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv passenger flight and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack, according to the United Arab Emirates attorney general. The case centres on flight 1073, which was carrying 182 people when it later made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a severe descent. Officials said the aircraft plunged sharply and suffered damage to part of its rudder.The attorney general said the alleged plan was for the aircraft to be flown into a terminal at the Israeli airport on 30 September. Prosecutors said the suspect was... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Global tensions flare from Gaza to Hormuz as markets turn mixed
The biggest escalation came in the Middle East, where Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it set an oil tanker ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz and warned of wider attacks on vessels it considers hostile, raising fresh fears over shipping through the waterway. 🔗 Saudi Arabia also reopened Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after a Houthi attack killed three people and injured several others, underlining the spread of regional violence. 🔗In Gaza, a senior United Nations official said life remains “absolutely horrendous” a year after the ceasefire, with the humanitarian crisis still severe. 🔗 Separately, Vladimir Putin said Russia would do... [Continue Reading]
Saudi Arabia reopens Riyadh airport after Houthi attack kills three
Saudi Arabia has reopened Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport after a Houthi attack that killed three people and injured several others, according to the country's civil aviation authority. The authority said the strike hit airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft, causing material damage and temporary disruption before operations returned to normal. Saudia later said one of its pilots, Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, was killed in the incident.The General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attack took place on Thursday and that injuries ranged from minor to severe. It said air traffic at the airport has now resumed, while the national... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Day News Recap: Middle East tensions flare as Ukraine, Europe and markets react
Iran widened pressure on shipping by striking two commercial tankers outside the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours, while a separate tanker was hit by multiple projectiles off the north coast of Qatar, deepening fears over Gulf trade routes. đź”— đź”—Those attacks fed a broader surge in Middle East risk, with oil and stocks swinging on renewed fears of supply disruption, and the G7 agreeing to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency stockpiles over four months to cushion shortages. đź”— đź”—In Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the conflict escalated further as Riyadh said Houthi attacks on two... [Continue Reading]
Saudi-led coalition says it intercepts three Houthi ballistic missiles toward Riyadh and Khamis Mushait
Saudi Arabia says its coalition forces intercepted three ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi movement on Thursday, including two aimed at the capital, Riyadh, and one directed at Khamis Mushait near the Yemeni border. The announcement came amid a renewed exchange of cross-border attacks that has raised concern over civilian risk and aviation security in the kingdom. Saudi officials said debris from one intercepted missile caused material damage in Riyadh.Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets. Saudi civil defence said falling debris damaged a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex in Riyadh, although it... [Continue Reading]
Strait of Hormuz shipping slows as tanker bonuses surge amid Iran war
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level since July, according to shipping data cited in the supplied material, even as some tanker captains are being offered unusually large bonuses to take the route. The development points to a widening gap between the strategic importance of the waterway and the willingness of crews to transit it under current conditions. It also suggests that the maritime disruption around the Gulf is now affecting both traffic patterns and labour costs.The supplied material says some captains are earning base salaries of as much as $100,000, plus a $50,000 bonus... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Middle East tensions flare as Israel marks 7 October anniversary and oil jumps
Oil prices and global stocks swung as traders reacted to renewed fears of disruption to Middle East supply routes, with crude rising on reports that Iran appeared to be preparing a response and investors watching the risk to shipping and energy flows. 🔗Security concerns widened after UKMTO said a tanker sailing off the north coast of Qatar was struck by multiple projectiles, adding to worries over maritime traffic in the Gulf. 🔗In the region’s wider conflict, Saudi Arabia said Houthi attacks on two airports killed three civilians, including three foreign nationals, and injured 36 people over two days, while Yemeni... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
New York appeals court hears Saudi Arabia arguments in 9/11 families lawsuit
A New York appeals court has heard arguments from lawyers for families of 9/11 victims and from Saudi Arabia over whether a long-running lawsuit can move to trial. The case centres on allegations that a Saudi government employee, Omar al-Bayoumi, supported two of the hijackers and had links to officials connected to the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs. The hearing took place as the court considers whether the families have met the legal threshold needed to continue their case.The attacks of 11 September 2001 killed almost 3,000 people after hijackers seized four US passenger jets and crashed them into the... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Ukraine toll rises as Middle East tensions, Iran pressure and global probes widen
Ukraine said at least 20 people were killed in overnight Russian strikes that spread across central and eastern parts of the country, with rescue work continuing after the attacks. đź”—In the Middle East, Yemen's conflict escalated again as Houthi missiles and drones targeted Aden International Airport, forcing a passenger flight diversion, while Saudi forces said they intercepted a missile near Riyadh and no casualties were reported. đź”— đź”— đź”—Yemen's internationally recognised government also said it had launched Operation Dawn of Yemen and pushed a renewed offensive on the Red Sea coast, including moves near Bab al Mandeb and an assault... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Russia intensifies Ukraine strikes as Middle East tensions and anniversary events dominate
Russia launched one of its heaviest overnight assaults of the war on Ukraine, killing at least 11 people and hitting multiple cities, including energy infrastructure, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky said was among the most severe attacks so far. đź”—A separate report said the barrage involved missiles and drones across the country, again striking power sites and other targets, underlining the pressure on Ukraine's energy system as winter approaches. đź”—In Brussels, the European Commission disbursed EUR 1.24 billion to Ukraine under the defence component of its wider support package, adding fresh financial backing as Kyiv faces renewed battlefield and infrastructure... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Russia widens strikes as Yemen front heats up and Sudan rejects talks
Russia carried out a wide overnight strike on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials confirming at least two deaths as Moscow described the assault as a massive strike. đź”—In Sudan, army chief Abdel Fattah al Burhan rejected negotiations and vowed to retake every area held by the Rapid Support Forces, as the conflict widened further. đź”—Yemen saw a sharp escalation on several fronts. The internationally recognised government said Houthi missiles and drones targeted Aden International Airport, forcing the diversion of a passenger flight, while another report said two missiles hit the airport early Wednesday with no casualties... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Yemen's Houthis attack Aden airport as Saudi forces intercept missile near Riyadh
Yemen's internationally recognised government says Houthi missiles and drones targeted Aden International Airport, forcing the diversion of a passenger flight from Cairo and the evacuation of the terminal. The airport, which serves as the main international gateway for areas outside Houthi control, was hit in an attack that the government said came close to causing a civilian disaster. Separately, Saudi Arabia said its forces intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh.The Ministry of Transport said at least two ballistic missiles and several drones were used in the attack on the airport's runway and passenger terminal. It said one missile landed... [Continue Reading]
Yemeni government forces launch offensive to retake strategic al-Waziiya district in Taiz
Forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government have launched an operation to capture the mountainous district of al-Waziiya in Taiz governorate from the Houthis. The fighting is part of a wider push to regain territory along Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The district is seen as strategically important because of its position west of Taiz and east of the port of Mocha.The army media centre said the Homeland Shield Forces, a pro-government military faction, had begun a large-scale operation to retake al-Waziiya. It said government forces had secured strategic hills overlooking the al-Mansoura area and described... [Continue Reading]
Yemen offensive advances near Bab al-Mandeb as coalition air support intensifies
Yemen's internationally recognised government says its counter-offensive has made further gains along the Red Sea coast near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The operation, named Dawn of Yemen, is reported to have recaptured territory from the Houthis over the past two days, extending fighting across a strategically sensitive corridor in western Yemen. The latest claims suggest the campaign is moving beyond isolated local advances and into a broader attempt to reshape control of the coast.According to the supplied reporting, the Saudi-led coalition backing the government has deployed 100 fighter jets and has been flying round-the-clock support missions to help secure the... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan and Turkiye move to support Saudi deterrence against Houthis as pact takes effect
The defence arrangement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye has now been activated, with the three countries agreeing to move agreed forces and capabilities into Saudi Arabia. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday, according to a joint statement shared by Pakistan's Foreign Office. The statement said the committee had decided to begin practical implementation of collective-defence commitments and to ensure rapid deployment in line with approved arrangements and national legislation.The latest reporting adds that the pact, signed in August and sometimes referred to as the Mecca pact, is now in force for the first... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
UAE says FlyDubai copilot tried to seize control of flight to Tel Aviv
The United Arab Emirates says it is investigating a serious incident on a FlyDubai passenger flight that was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to officials, the copilot allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe and tried to take control of the aircraft. The plane was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew when the incident took place on Wednesday.Officials said passengers and crew managed to restrain the copilot before the situation escalated further. A reserve pilot who was on board then took control and landed the aircraft at Tabuk airport in north-west Saudi Arabia, where the copilot... [Continue Reading]
FlyDubai co-pilot allegedly planned to crash aircraft into Tel Aviv airport, reports say
The co-pilot of a FlyDubai flight is now reported to have planned to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport, according to multiple reports citing people close to the investigation. In the first public comments from Emirati investigators, UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said the co-pilot of flight FZ1073 "attempted to carry out a terrorist attack" when he attacked the captain with an axe and tried to take control of the aircraft. The flight was bound for Israel and carried more than 180 passengers, according to the supplied material.The reports say the suspect, identified by multiple sources as... [Continue Reading]
Houthis consolidate control in Mocha as civilians remain trapped
Houthi forces have taken control of the Red Sea city of Mocha, leaving thousands of civilians still in the district as conditions deteriorate, according to residents and local accounts. The city lies on Yemen's western coast, close to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a major shipping chokepoint. People in and around Mocha say the takeover has changed daily life quickly and has deepened fears among families who did not flee.Residents said Houthi forces entered Mocha on 10 September, after which fighting shifted along the coast and some families moved towards Aden, Taiz and Lahij. One resident, Nabil, said he watched displaced... [Continue Reading]
Saudi-led coalition rejects Houthi claim of Riyadh attack as fighting intensifies
The Saudi-led coalition has dismissed Houthi claims that they targeted Riyadh with missiles and drones, saying the allegations were misleading. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the group was trying to divert attention from its losses and growing public anger, according to the supplied report. The exchange comes as fighting between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government forces has intensified.The Houthis said they had struck an Aramco oil facility near Riyadh and claimed the attack caused large fires. The coalition did not confirm that account in the supplied material, and no independent verification of damage or casualties was provided. In... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Australia investigates Flydubai co-pilot links as probe widens after in-flight attack
Australian authorities are investigating the links to the country of a Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain with a crash axe during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia after passengers managed to overpower the co-pilot and regain control of the plane. The UAE prosecutor is also investigating the incident and any possible motives.The Australian Federal Police said it is examining the man's links to Australia, with state police and the country's security agency involved. Sources familiar with the case have said the co-pilot was issued a student visa in 2014 and... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
The Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Gambit
The UAE’s decision to cut ties with OPEC is far more than a mere adjustment of energy policy, for it functions as a political telegram written in barrels and sent directly to the heart of the global order. For nearly six decades, Abu Dhabi operated within the rigid architecture of producer discipline, where it accepted the rituals of quotas, the formality of communiqués, and the heavy burden of collective restraint. It played the long game of oil diplomacy with a patient hand, balancing its own massive national ambitions against the gravity of cartel discipline and the delicate logic of Gulf... [Continue Reading]
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored




