The Iraqi government has reportedly launched a campaign with Iran-backed Shia militias to recapture the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State.
Saudi war planes have bombarded the rebel-held Yemeni capital of Sana’a just hours before a five-day humanitarian ceasefire was set to begin.
Saudi Arabia projects confidence, but in reality it is not a very stable nation. The threat of tribal, sectarian and class paradoxes within the kingdom is much graver than the threats imposed by so-called Shia Crescent.
Yemen’s humanitarian crisis is getting worse by the day, and the city of Aden has become a major flashpoint.
Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East and known to have more weapons than citizens, has been a security nightmare for some time – but its recent downturn has finally spurred its neighbours to military action.