@kenbazinet.bsky.socialSaudi Arabia ended a longstanding partnership with UAE late last year over its backing of a rival force in Yemen; misjudged Trump’s willingness to back it if it needed support; and struggled to organize disintegrated armed factions fighting the Houthis in Yemen, CNN reported.
@kenbazinet.bsky.socialThe attack late Thursday was the deadliest in Saudi Arabia since it and allies in Yemen launched a military offensive last week against Iran-backed Houthis -- a significant escalation in the latest front, which has kept oil prices and markets jumpy, AP reported.
@kenbazinet.bsky.socialBattles have focused in recent days on areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a shipping route that has become more crucial for energy exports since the conflict between the US and Iran restricted trade through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.
@kenbazinet.bsky.socialThe meeting comes after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought US military against the Iran-backed Houthis, but Washington declined to launch strikes, though it agreed to supply intelligence and targeting support, sources told Reuters.
@kenbazinet.bsky.socialA year ago, Trump and his retinue, with all their trademark hubris and arrogance, celebrated the end of the Houthis in very public ways.
A year later, the Houthis are routing the Saudis and setting the market prices for crude oil and gasoline.
The Atlantic has the details.
@kenbazinet.bsky.socialThe escalating attacks threaten Saudi Arabia’s ability to export oil through the Red Sea at a time when the strait of Hormuz is disrupted and the kingdom’s east-west pipeline is only now resuming operations after drone strikes earlier this month, The Guardian reported.