Saudi Arabia released a statement on Wednesday rebuking a US comment on the possibility of Israel-Saudi normalization. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US received "positive feedback" during talks with Saudi Arabia about a normalization deal...
Houthis Attack Another US-Owned Commercial Vessel in Gulf of Aden
The Houthis have attacked another US-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden as the group is now targeting American commercial shipping following US and British airstrikes on Yemen. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said Houthi forces targeted the Genco Picardy, a bulk...
Report: Saudis Determined to Get Defense Pact With US for Israel Normalization
Saudi Arabia is determined to secure a defense pact with the US in exchange for normalizing with Israel regardless of whether or not concessions are made to the Palestinians, Reuters reported Friday, citing regional sources. Riyadh is looking for a commitment from the...
Saudi Arabia, China to Hold Second-Ever Joint Naval Exercise
Saudi Arabia and China are set to hold their second-ever joint naval exercise as Riyadh continues to move closer to Beijing, AFP reported on Thursday. "This joint training focuses on overseas maritime counter-terrorism operations, conducting exercises on sniper...
Israeli Minister Arrives in Saudi Arabia for First Public Visit Amid Normalization Talks
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a UN conference, making him the first senior Israeli official to publicly visit the Kingdom, which comes as the US is pushing for a Saudi-Israeli normalization deal. "Tourism is a bridge between...
Houthis Leave Saudi Arabia After Five Days of Talks on Potential Peace Deal
Negotiators representing Yemen's Houthis left Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after five days of talks aimed at reaching an agreement to end the eight-year conflict between the two parties. No deals were signed after the talks, but two sources told Reuters that some progress...
US Discussing Mutual Defense Treaty With Saudi Arabia Similar to Japan, South Korea
US and Saudi officials are discussing the terms of a potential mutual defense treaty that would be similar to pacts the US has with South Korea and Japan, The New York Times reported on Tuesday. The discussions are part of a US effort to broker a normalization deal...
Blinken Speaks With Netanyahu, Abbas Amid Saudi Normalization Push
On Tuesday, the State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas amid a US push to broker a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi...
US Knew Saudis Were Slaughtering African Migrants at Border But Kept Quiet
The Biden administration has been aware since last year that Saudi border guards were slaughtering African migrants on Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen but kept quiet about the killings, The New York Times reported on Saturday. Sources told the Times that American...
Israeli FM Calls for US to Give Saudi Arabia a Defense Commitment
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has called for the US to provide Saudi Arabia with defense commitments as Israel is vying for a normalization deal with Riyadh. While an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal is expected to be a long way off, Saudi Arabia has been looking...