The crisis in the Red Sea has sparked a new wave of Russian diplomatic efforts in the Gulf, as Moscow seeks to expand its influence amid the ongoing US-led efforts to curb Yemen’s Houthi attacks on maritime traffic passing through this vital trade corridor. Despite being mired in the conflict in Ukraine and facing Western sanctions, President… Read More How Russia seeks to capitalize on US strikes in Yemen, Red Sea tensions
Iran’s efforts to establish a foothold in Sudan threatens its fragile ties with the UAE, which has its own interests in the war-torn country. Before international attention turned to Iran’s role in strikes against US troops in the Middle East, Tehran had quietly been seeking to expand its influence in the Red Sea region, with… Read More How Sudan could become an Iran-UAE proxy war
This was published in The New Arab, in late November 2023, prior to the Houthis’ attacks on Red Sea cargo in December Yemen has captured globalattention after the country’s Houthi rebels began launching ballistic missiles and drones at Israel in lateOctober. Marking anotable shift in their capabilities, Houthi gunmen on Sunday executed asophisticated operation in the Red Sea where… Read More Will Houthi-Israel tensions threaten security in Yemen and the Red Sea?
This article was originally published in The New Arab As BRICS held a virtual Extraordinary Joint Meeting in late November, the group informally agreed to condemn Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and expressed concern over the plight of civilians in the besieged enclave. “We condemned any kind of individual or mass forcible transfer and deportation of Palestinians… Read More Why India has embraced Israel amid the Gaza war
Today marks the 1,000th day since the Yemen conflict began. Save the Children reports from Sana’a the devastating toll the war has taken on children in the poorest Middle Eastern country. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition on March 26th 2015 commenced a bombing campaign to reinstate their favoured President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and to eliminate anti-government… Read More After 1,000 days of conflict, Yemen’s children bear the brunt of an endless war
Burns, lashes, electric shocks and skinning – torture scenes that are usually seen in horror movies, are actually the reality for refugees trying to reach Europe through Libya. While some of them face harsh realities of detention centers, others get auctioned off as slaves. As the situation shows no signs of improvement, humanitarian organizations have… Read More Migrants continue to suffer in Libya
Communities in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held area outside Damascus, are at breaking point and in urgent need of aid, warn sources on the ground. Eastern Ghouta is one of the last regions in Syria controlled by anti-government militias. An increasingly tightened siege by the Syrian government, in place for four years, has been preventing aid groups… Read More Civilians in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta at ‘breaking point’
Tunisia is the birthplace of the Arab Spring, and is hailed as the only Arab nation to achieve democracy. While some Middle Eastern and North African nations were torn apart by revolutions, and others’ democratic efforts were suppressed, Tunisia remained stable. Democratic institutions were quickly established after the Jasmine Revolution of 2010-2011, and elections were… Read More Has democracy succeeded in Tunisia?
Clashes between Yemen’s warring factions have recently intensified, leaving civilians at risk from the country’s ongoing conflict, which has already destroyed millions of lives. Yemeni children are traumatised while vital aid cannot reach the injured, and people cannot flee contested areas. Humanitarian NGOs have been urging both sides to immediately agree a ceasefire. The rceent… Read More Civilians desperate for ceasefire in Yemen
In a further move to suffocate Yemen, Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that it would close all Yemen’s land, air and sea ports. While the kingdom claims it is a temporary measure, many have warned it will mostly harm Yemen’s civilians. A statement from the state Saudi news agency, SPA, reported it was to stem the… Read More Saudi Arabia’s blockade hits ordinary Yemenis hardest
Jonathan Fenton-Harvey 