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As Alliances in Yemen Shift, The Houthis Are Watchful
Rapid developments in Yemen over the past several hours are shaping what appears to be a new phase in the country and could pave the way for a potential shift in the map of alliances among Yemeni forces and regional powers. As part of this wave of events, a public war of words erupted between…
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The Red Sea Shifts from Saudi Control to Global Power Rivalry
Commercial shipping in the Red Sea no longer resembles what it was in past decades. The waterway has been militarized, with warships and naval fleets from distant powers flowing into it. As the Red Sea and its straits have been drawn into regional conflicts — including Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in recent months that…
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Five Key Facts about the Saudi-Emirati Rift in Yemen
The rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has surfaced publicly in an unprecedented way following an airstrike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition on the port of Mukalla in southern Yemen. The strike was followed by an Emirati announcement that it would withdraw its remaining forces from the country and by an…
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GCC Countries and Yemen Face a New Stage
In March 2015, the Arab coalition intervened in Yemen under the banner of restoring hope for the Yemeni people, reinstating legitimate rule and facing up to the Houthis. However, the long course of the war gradually revealed an erosion within the coalition’s structure, as divergences in objectives and tools among its members intensified, and coordination…
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Southern Yemen Awaits Decision on Joint Force Proposal
Cautious calm and anticipation prevail in southern Yemen, as key parties await an announcement by the Southern Transitional Council on the fate of its forces in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, amid the council’s growing refusal to withdraw them, according to multiple concordant sources. On the ground, Hadramawt on Monday saw demonstrations in which slogans supporting the…
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A Possible Saudi Policy Shift in Yemen
As senior air force commanders from the Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia were meeting in Muscat, images began circulating on social media showing Saudi fighter jets carrying out what were described as “warning strikes” over Yemen’s Al-Mahrah province at its border with Oman. The area has witnessed a rapid expansion of influence in recent…
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Sudan’s Fallout Hits Yemen
In a development that could redraw the map of Yemen’s conflict, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) announced that it had taken control of wide areas in the country’s south, including the city of Aden. For nearly a decade, the coastal city has served as the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia.…
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At the Gate of Oman: How Do We Understand What Is Happening in Hadramout and Mahra?
In the early hours of Thursday, December 4, the name “Wadi Hadramout” echoed once again after fierce clashes erupted on the plateau surrounding the Petromasila oil facilities between forces from the “Hadrami Elite” and armed groups loyal to tribal sheikh Amr bin Habreesh. According to sources who spoke to Alhurra, the confrontation ended with a…
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From Beirut to Sanaa, the Battle Lines Between Israel and Iran Interlock
In a sign that Israel and Iran may be heading toward another military confrontation, Israel’s public broadcaster quoted a “security source” as saying that Tehran is accelerating an arms buildup in anticipation of a potential direct Israeli strike inside Iranian territory. The source, cited by Kan 11, claimed that Iran is working to restore its…
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Houthis May Be Losing Their Hold
The Houthi movement in Yemen announced on Oct. 16 the death of its chief of staff, Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari — a development that has stirred doubts about the group’s cohesion and raised questions over whether its long-insulated leadership is starting to fracture. Al-Ghamari, regarded as the most powerful figure in the movement after its…