Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran strikes tankers, US bases as Gulf conflict escalates Lebanon, Israel hold talks in Rome; Iraqi PM Zaidi to meet Trump; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Yemen’s Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa airport: What to know The Yemeni government claimed that its armed forces struck the Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, while the Houthis accused the government's ally, Saudi Arabia, of carrying out the strikes. Yemen
Analysis Saudi-UAE payment blocks could imperil billions in trade: What to know Delayed bank transfers from Saudi Arabia to accounts in the United Arab Emirates could suggest the rivalry between the region's largest economies is entering a new financial phase. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Carney bets on Saudi Arabia to help reduce dependence on US: What to know Canada is seeking to diversify away from the United States, with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states offering key energy and industrial benefits. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Analysis How Iran war shaped divergent paths to security among GCC states By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Could Iran-Saudi conflict provide Turkey 'graceful exit' from Syria? Turkish reactions to the Jan. 2 execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr are quite telling for the future of Ankara’s regional policy. Saudi Arabia
Oman, stuck between Saudi Arabia and Iran With a long history as a regional mediator and close ties with both Riyadh and Tehran, will Oman be able to cool the recent Saudi-Iranian tensions following the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr? Saudi Arabia
The Saudi predicament The execution of a prominent Shiite cleric jeopardizes already fragile international efforts to end the wars in Syria and Yemen. Saudi Arabia
What did Saudi Embassy attackers want? Some in Iran suspect the "rogue elements" who attacked Saudi Arabia's embassy intended to sabotage the administration's foreign policy goals of improving relations with foreign countries post-nuclear deal. Saudi Arabia
Has Turkey’s regional power grab come to an end? Turkey is forfeiting its claims for regional supremacy by joining the Saudi-led Sunni alliance and making friendly overtures toward Israel. Saudi Arabia
Brother of executed Saudi cleric says Nimr is 'martyr against injustice' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Mohammed al-Nimr, the brother of the Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who was executed by Saudi Arabia, speaks about his family’s reaction, responses inside and outside Saudi Arabia and the fate of his brother’s body. Legacy: Gulf
What are the real goals of Riyadh’s new Islamic coalition? The Saudi-led Islamic coalition was not formed to only combat IS, but also to determine the future of Sunni areas in the conflict areas in Syria and Iraq. Saudi Arabia
Will Saudi agricultural investments in Sudan leave Egypt high and dry? Experts say Egypt can’t afford to remain stoic about Sudan’s ever-rising water needs. Saudi Arabia
Will Yemen’s journalists fare better in 2016? In 2015, some journalists in Yemen suffered so much harassment and abuse that they quit their jobs and fled the country. Saudi Arabia
Will Iran suspend hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia? After Riyadh severed diplomatic relations with Tehran and suspended direct flights between the two countries, some are wondering if Iranian pilgrims will be banned. Saudi Arabia
Saudi-Iranian crisis complicates Ankara’s regional plans Islamists and secularists alike want Turkey to stay out of the Iranian-Saudi conflict. Saudi Arabia
How will Saudi-Iranian crisis affect the region? As relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran reach their worst levels yet following the Saudi execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, the United States, Russia and the European Union are exerting all possible efforts to avoid a spillover to other countries where these parties wield influence. Saudi Arabia