Sep 12 Saudi Arabia has few options as it faces mounting threats from Iran and its allies By Elena Becatoros, Joseph Krauss, Associated Press A lightning advance by Houthi rebels threatens a crucial Red Sea shipping route. Drone attacks blamed on Iraqi militias have forced the closure of a major pipeline, and Iran is still disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. Continue reading
Sep 12 Attack that closed key Saudi pipeline is blamed on Iran-backed militias in Iraq By Julia Frankel, Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Cara Anna, Associated Press Though an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias in Iraq denied their involvement, Iraq's government confirmed the attacks had originated from its territory, pledged to investigate and dismissed two senior officials. Continue reading
Sep 11 Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthis seize an island in a key strait, opening a new front in the Iran war By Fatma Khaled, Samy Magdy, Cara Anna, Associated Press Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured a strategic island at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, two officials said Friday, opening a new front in the Iran war and further threatening Saudi oil exports through one of the world’s key… Continue reading
Aug 10 Watch 6:07 Iran demands U.S. pay for war damage before agreeing to reopen Strait of Hormuz By Nick Schifrin, Eliot Barnhart Iran doubled down on keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed until the U.S. meets a sweeping list of demands. President Trump scoffed at those conditions, especially paying reparations to Iran for damages caused by five months of U.S.-Israeli bombardments. The… Continue watching
Aug 09 Pakistan says new defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey is 'purely defensive' and open to others By Munir Ahmed, Associated Press The landmark Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed on Friday as the three countries seek to deepen security cooperation amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Continue reading
Aug 07 Watch 5:26 What's holding up the Iran-Oman proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz By Nick Schifrin, Daniel Okay There is a new partnership in the Middle East and South Asia. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed an agreement similar to NATO’s Article 5, pledging that a strike against one of them would be considered a strike against all… Continue watching
Jul 30 Watch 3:03 U.S. and Iran strikes intensify as war opens new fronts By William Brangham, Eliot Barnhart Strikes and counterstrikes between the U.S. and Iran intensified on Thursday, fueling fears the conflict could spread across the entire region. For the first time in five months, suspected military action expanded to Egypt with a drone strike that now… Continue watching
Jul 30 Watch 6:26 How shipping risks from Ukraine and Iran wars are converging By Geoff Bennett, Dan Sagalyn The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly all Middle Eastern oil flows, has prompted Saudi Arabia to call for a maritime defense coalition to protect Red Sea shipping. For perspective on the proposal, Geoff Bennett spoke with… Continue watching
Jul 30 U.S.-Iran conflict enters new phase as Saudi Arabia helps hit proxies and diplomacy stalls By Farnoush Amiri, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Despite several days of relative calm, both sides carried out military strikes in the last 24 hours that once again risk a return to all-out war — and further expansion in the region — while little is clear about what… Continue reading
Jul 30 U.S. and Iran trade missile barrages as hopes dim for a quick resolution to war By Samy Magdy, Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Fears of a wider war have grown, with renewed fighting threatening to engulf even more countries. Continue reading