AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Saudi-backed Yemen government soldiers gather near the Jabal Han front, west of the city of Taiz, following fierce battles earlier in the day as Yemen's Houthis reportedly attempted to seize control of the main route between the inland city of Taiz and the coastal city of Aden, on Oct. 3, 2026.

Yemen military announces retaking of Mokha from Houthis amid Red Sea offensive

Saudi Arabia is providing significant air support to the Yemeni government offensive and held a meeting with senior Turkish and Pakistani officials amid the escalation.

Yemen

Turkey, Pakistan to deploy forces to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

Turkish, Saudi and Pakistani officials agreed to bolster military cooperation under the Mecca defense pact as Houthi attacks and fighting in Yemen intensify.

Turkey

Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad looks on during the 27th Gas Exporting Countries Forum ministerial meeting, Doha, Qatar, Oct. 23, 2025.

Iran’s economy deteriorates, oil minister resigns, workers protest: What to know

Iran’s oil minister has resigned amid mounting economic pressure from US sanctions and restrictions on the country’s exports.

Iran

US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office

Analysis

Why Trump-Xi summit did not move the China needle away from Iran

Beijing's incentive to alienate Iran has shrunk as the war has dragged on.

By Yun Sun

In Washington, DC, reporting on China-Middle East ties

Vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran

Hormuz tanker attacks mount, putting oil flows at risk

Roughly a dozen reported attacks on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz suggests Iran is once again dialing up the pressure as US economic sanctions plunge the rial to new lows.

Iran

Latest News

Americans in Saudi Arabia warned of possible attacks as Yemen fighting flares

Flags of Saudi Arabia and the US on poles in Riyadh

Yemen

Israel bars UK Greens leader over Zionism-racism resolution: What to know

Green Party leader Zack Polanski delivers his speech during day one of the Green Party annual conference at Brighton Centre on Oct. 2, 2026, in Brighton, England.

Israel

UAE-Syria move ahead on $20 billion real estate mega-developments

Syria

Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan hold summit amid Ethiopia tensions

Egypt

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Men arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, in Fairford

Trump says US bombers moved from UK due to threats

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Views of Bab el-Mandeb strait as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis join Iran conflict

Yemeni government forces drive Houthis from Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Reuters

A screengrab taken from Flightradar24 shows a flydubai flight to Israel which was diverted to Saudi Arabia

Like a 'vertical roller coaster': Simulating flight FZ1073's sudden plunge

Reuters

Shira Shapiro, a member of Yashar, attends an event to present the candidate list for the political party, led by Israeli opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, in Rosh Haayin

October 7 families join election race with hope of healing Israel

Reuters

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Middle East Minute

Iran economy teeters, oil minister resigns

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5 October, 8:54 AM ET

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Egypt and Ethiopia expel diplomats

Adam Lucente

2 October, 8:41 AM ET

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Syria and Hezbollah held talks in Turkey: Report

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Interviews

Exclusive conversations with AL-MONITOR.

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Interview

Trump's Africa adviser denies Libya plan would entrench rival families

US Department of State's senior advisor to the President for Arab and African Affairs Massad Fares Boulos attends a conference for the support of peace and prosperity in the Great Lakes region, in Paris, on October 30, 2025. The international community gathered in Paris on October 30, 2025 to raise awareness about the dire humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes region, aiming to raise hundreds of millions of euros despite a drastic decrease in international aid, particularly from the United States. (Phot

Interview

Waltz: ‘Door open’ to Iran talks, more countries eye Abraham Accords

Interview

Yemen separatists urge US not to let Saudi Arabia ‘call the shots’

Yemenis gather during a rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the coastal port city of Aden, on December 14, 2025. (Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP via Getty Images)

Interview

Ex-PM says Sudan risks partition amid US ceasefire push

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok chairs an emergency cabinet session in the capital, Khartoum, on Oct. 18, 2021.

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Gulf oil exports are back, but how durable is recovery?

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Turkey revives F-16 talks with US amid Israel, Greece deterrence concerns

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

After US exit, Iran gains space in Iraq and a harder balancing act

Members of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization) paramilitary forces stand guard during an election rally for the "Asaib Ahl al-Haq" movement in the capital Baghdad, on October 7, 2021.

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Why Trump-Xi summit did not move the China needle away from Iran

By Yun Sun

In Washington, DC, reporting on China-Middle East ties

Dispatch from the New Syria: Opportunities and Challenges

October 1, 2026

1:00:54

The Iran War Widens: Yemen, Hormuz and What Comes Next

September 17, 2026