This is Beirut

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman Convince Trump to ‘Give Iran a Chance:’ Senior Saudi Official

This is Beirut, 15/01 15:35 - Reading : less than a minute

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman led efforts to talk U.S. President Donald Trump out of an attack on Iran, fearing “grave blowbacks in the region,” a senior Saudi official told AFP on Thursday. The Gulf trio “led a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort to convince President Trump to give Iran a chance to show good ...

Yemen Separatist Chief Calls for Protests in First Message Since Disappearance

This is Beirut, 15/01 09:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Arab Emirates Gulf Houthi Saudi Arabia

The UAE-backed leader of a Yemeni separatist movement on Thursday called for protests in Aden in a message to a TV channel, his first public statement since his disappearance over a week ago. Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, the leader of the Emirati-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), called for "the people of South Arabia to rally in the ...

Yemen Separatists Set for Riyadh Talks After Fighting: Official

This is Beirut, 06/01 14:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gulf Houthi Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates

The leader of Yemen's separatists is heading to Riyadh on Tuesday for talks, a Yemeni official told AFP, after days of fighting between his UAE-backed forces and pro-Saudi rivals. The Saudi-organised talks indicate the beginning of de-escalation efforts after the clashes in Yemen's government-run areas that exposed a rift between Gulf powers ...

KSA-Backed Forces Reclaim Eastern Yemen as Rift with UAE-Allied STC Deepens

This is Beirut, 05/01 11:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Gulf Houthi Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates USA Yemen

Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have regained control of the eastern governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahra from the United Arab Emirates–supported Southern Transitional Council (STC), marking a major shift in the balance of power as tensions among Gulf allies intensify. Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership ...

Syria and Lebanon: Who Is Moving Forward in 2026?

Salam El Zaatari, 04/01 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Nawaf Salam European Union Gulf Hezbollah Syria

Entering 2026, Syria and Lebanon stand at an inflection point along the region’s active fault line. While both nations shook off paralysis at roughly the same time a year ago, neither has become truly stable. What separates them is the nature of the risks they face in the near and medium-term as the Middle East undergoes uneasy post-war ...

Yemen Declares State of Emergency as Separatist Conflict Flares

This is Beirut, 2025-12-30 10:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Arab Emirates Gulf Houthi Saudi Arabia Yemen

The leader of Yemen's presidential council declared a state of emergency and cancelled a security pact with the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after Abu Dhabi-backed separatists seized swathes of territory. "The Joint Defence Agreement with the United Arab Emirates is hereby cancelled," a statement said, while a separate decree announced a ...

Iran Guards Warn US Vessels During Drill in Gulf

This is Beirut, 2025-12-04 16:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf USA Israel Tehran United States

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps on Thursday kicked off naval wargames in the Gulf, issuing warnings to US warships in the area, more than five months after the 12-day war with Israel that briefly drew in American forces. State TV said the drill showcases the "sacrifice and spirit of resistance" of the IRGC's naval forces ...

Iraq Reverses Hezbollah, Houthi Asset Freeze, Calls It ‘Mistake'

This is Beirut, 2025-12-04 11:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Banks Gulf United Kingdom Iraq Houthis

Iraq's central bank on Thursday said the appearance of Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthis on a frozen assets list was a mistake, and ordered the correction of the official announcement, according to a document seen by AFP. An official gazette issue dated November 17 published a decision about Iraq freezing the assets of ...

Trump and MBS Seal Major Economic and Military Partnerships

This is Beirut, 2025-11-18 18:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Israel Middle East Palestine

Donald Trump received Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on Tuesday with full protocol honors, marking his first visit to Washington since 2018. The U.S. president and the de facto leader of the Saudi kingdom made multiple announcements during a joint press conference, covering massive investments, the sale of advanced weaponry, and ...

Red Carpet and Big Deals: Trump Welcomes MBS to Washington

This is Beirut, 2025-11-18 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Israel Middle East Palestine MBS

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will receive a lavish welcome from US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, signing defense and nuclear deals during his first visit to the United States since the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump is expected to roll out the red carpet for the prince with a fly-by, cannon fire, and a gala dinner ...

Saudi Arabia-Lebanon: A Major Trade Thaw Begins

Liliane Mokbel, 2025-11-17 20:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Saudi Arabia Bahrain Gulf Kuwait Trade

Signs of warning relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia are becoming increasingly evident. Many see it as long overdue for Lebanon to reclaim its place within its natural sphere: the Arab world. On Monday, Prince Yazid bin Farhan, advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister, visited Beirut with a technical delegation. The visit aimed to explore ...

Saudi Prince, Eyeing Defence Pledge, to Meet Trump After Long US Absence

This is Beirut, 2025-11-15 12:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Bahrain Gulf Hamas Israel Saudi Arabia

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will press for security guarantees while US President Donald Trump will urge him to normalise ties with Israel when the de facto Saudi ruler breaks a seven-year absence from Washington this week. Saudi Arabia is unlikely to agree to normalisation at this stage, with Prince Mohammed's priority set for firmer US ...

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