Breaking | Last Updated: October 22, 2026, 9:16 am Aramco evacuates staff as Saudi Arabia braces for potential Houthi escalation: What to know The repeated and escalating Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities and airports United States ordered the departure of non-essential government employees and their families from the kingdom, with oil giant Aramco reportedly evacuating its headquarters. Saudi Arabia
France’s Macron first Western leader to visit Saudi Arabia since Houthi escalation French President Emmanuel Macron met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a surprise stop in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Yemen displacement tops 250K as Houthis tighten siege on Taiz: What to know The Houthis are looking to completely seize Taiz city, with clashes escalating in other parts of the south as well. Yemen
Qatar PM in Beirut as Lebanon seeks economic relief: What to know Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani’s visit to Beirut coincides with the Lebanese authorities’ ongoing efforts to curb Hezbollah’s influence in the country. Lebanon
Analysis Who are Yemen's Southern Giants Brigades leading the fight against the Houthis? By Giorgio Cafiero
How did Turkey end up with VIP plane it didn’t need? A Qatar leader's VIP plane that had first been put up for sale ended up as a gift for Erdogan, causing a major stir in Turkey. United Arab Emirates
Trump shelves Gulf talks until next year The White House has once again postponed a Gulf Cooperation Council summit aimed at bringing together the fragmented alliance to counter Iran. Saudi Arabia
Qatar crisis looms over Trump meeting with Kuwait emir In a quiet visit overshadowed by domestic US political turmoil, Kuwait’s emir visited the White House on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia
Will Hamas, Israel call Qatar-brokered truce? Qatar has been increasingly involved in talks between Hamas and Israel in what raises questions about its exploitation of the Gaza card in the Gulf crisis. Qatar
Cairo breathes sigh of relief as Saudi oil exports resume through Bab el-Mandeb Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Falih announced that his country resumed oil exports via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, amid Egyptian fears that a decrease in traffic in the popular shipping corridor could impact Suez Canal revenues. Saudi Arabia
Qatari envoy to Gaza rouses Hamas' ire Palestinians have expressed their anger at the Qatari ambassador’s statements in which he claimed that Hamas and Israel are conducting secret negations to avoid war. Qatar
Saudi Arabia bails out Jordan In light of Jordan's latest protests that toppled the prime minister, Saudi Arabia initiated a summit June 10 where a $2.5 billion five-year aid program was agreed on to help the Hashemite Kingdom regain a position of stability in the region. Saudi Arabia
UAE, Russia leaders affirm common ground in Moscow meeting The crown prince of the United Arab Emirates visited Russia last week for the seventh time in five years, meeting with President Vladimir Putin to discuss many areas in which they agreed to collaborate. United Arab Emirates
Concern mounts as coalition forces advance on key Yemeni port Has the United States lifted its “red light” on an Emirati- and Saudi-backed military operation to take the key Yemeni port? Saudi Arabia
Kuwait's careful balancing act with Iran, Saudi Arabia The muted responses to the US withdrawal from the Iran deal among smaller Gulf Cooperation Council member states reflect careful policies designed to balance ties with Iran and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
America’s hawkish turn on Iran threatens Gulf alliance Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s new Iran policy announcement could have repercussions on US efforts to save the Gulf Cooperation Council. Legacy: Gulf
