Your regional news round-up
- Iranian protesters tried to break into a local government building in the southern Fars province yesterday, state media said, on the fourth day of demonstrations over the cost of living that have prompted an unusual offer of dialogue from the government.
- Gulf countries have called for calm and restraint following the escalation in Yemen in recent days. Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait said they were monitoring the situation closely, highlighting the important role played by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in supporting “stability and security” in the country.
- Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi was in Riyadh yesterday for talks with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on developments in Yemen.
- The Southern Transitional Council yesterday said it did not "harbour any hostility" towards countries in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia.
- Yemen needs a new counter-terrorism strategy to confront the growing threats of Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood following the withdrawal of UAE operatives, experts have told The National.
- Other experts have warned that divisions within Yemen's ruling council could hand an advantage to the Iran-backed Houthis.
- A Syrian security force member was killed and two others were wounded when a suicide bomber suspected of having ties to ISIS tried to attack a church in Aleppo, the interior ministry said. Syria has been increasing cooperation with US forces against the group.
Other developments
- Turkish authorities detained another 125 suspected ISIS militants in the latest nationwide sweep.
- A ship from the UAE carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza arrived in Egypt's Al Arish.
More goings-on
- President Sheikh Mohamed and other UAE leaders shared their greetings with countries across the world and wished everyone a prosperous new year. "Let us welcome the year ahead with renewed hope and determination in efforts to foster unity, progress and prosperity for all,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X.
- Zohran Mamdani has been sworn in as New York City's first Muslim mayor.
Happening today
- Deadline for first phase of disarming Lebanon’s Hezbollah expires
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This newsletter was compiled by Aveen Karim, Deputy Foreign Editor.
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