<b>Hello from </b><i><b>The National </b></i><b>in Abu Dhabi. Here is your morning newsletter with all the top stories from the Mena region.</b> Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expects that a military confrontation with ISIS will become necessary, and that the international community is increasingly recognising the need to act as the extremist group continues to regroup. In an exclusive interview with <i>The National</i> at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Hussein said that “the whole situation in the Middle East is now different”, and will require further co-ordination between countries in the region. See the full interview <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/17/iraq-isis-fuad-hussein-interview/" target="_blank">here</a>. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/18/saudi-crown-prince-and-rubio-discuss-regional-developments/" target="_blank">Marco Rubio</a>, the US Secretary of State, visited Saudi Arabia, where discussions with Russian officials aimed at ending the war in Ukraine are set to take place. The talks have fuelled diplomatic tension, with European leaders seeking assurances as they discuss overcoming differences over sending troops to Ukraine. Mr Rubio was in Tel Aviv before Riyadh and ahead of his trip to the UAE. It is his first tour of the Middle East in his new role in President Donald Trump's administration. In Abu Dhabi, the UAE and Ukraine formally signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) as the countries seek to boost trade and investment ties. The deal was signed in the presence of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2025/02/17/uae-and-ukraine-sign-landmark-trade-deal/" target="_blank">Cepa </a>is estimated to contribute about $369 million to the UAE’s GDP and $874 million to the Ukrainian economy by 2031. Israel will keep troops in five posts in southern Lebanon beyond the February 18 deadline for its withdrawal from the country. Lebanon has rejected any Israeli <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/17/israel-lebanon-withdrawal-deadline/" target="_blank">occupation</a>. Hours before the announcement, senior Hamas commander Mohammed Shaheen was killed in a strike in the southern city of Sidon, the Israeli army said. Meanwhile, an Arab summit called to oppose US President Donald Trump's controversial Gaza proposals could be "<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/17/arab-league-summit-to-discuss-trumps-gaza-proposals-could-be-postponed/" target="_blank">put off </a>for a few days" for logistical reasons, according to a top Arab League diplomat. Yemen's Foreign Minister Shaya Zindani told <i>The National</i> in an exclusive interview that there is still “no vision for peace” in Yemen while the Houthis are supported by Iran. He explained that Iran keeps a grip on Yemen that it will not let go of easily. The Houthis have benefited from Iranian intelligence, know-how and training to maintain power in the country's north, where most of the country's population is based. Full interview <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/17/no-vision-for-peace-in-yemen-says-foreign-minister/" target="_blank">here</a>. Oil exports from Iraq’s Kurdistan region are set to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2025/02/17/kurdistan-oil-exports-to-resume-next-week-minister-says/" target="_blank">resume </a>next week, ending a nearly two-year dispute over Kurdish crude shipments, Iraq’s Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani announced. An Iraqi Oil ministry delegation will visit Erbil today to discuss transferring 300,000 barrels to Baghdad for export through Turkey’s Ceyhan port. A glimpse of a future <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/2025/02/17/idex-2025-uae-signs-13-deals-worth-about-dh4bn-on-day-one-of-biggest-middle-east-defence-expo/" target="_blank">robotic battlefield</a> at Idex defence expo in Abu Dhabi. Trump’s antagonism towards Europe will <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/02/17/trumps-antagonism-of-europe-will-bring-relief-in-china/" target="_blank">bring relief</a> in China, writes Damien McElroy. Nakba <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/pop-culture/2025/02/16/palestine-video-game-nakba/" target="_blank">video game</a> raises more than $200,000. Raghida Dergham <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/02/16/how-arab-leaders-can-trump-americas-gaza-reconstruction-plan/" target="_blank">explores</a> how Arab leaders can trump America's Gaza plan.