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Thousands of Yemeni children fleeing fighting: aid group

An international aid group says about 3,000 Yemeni children are fleeing every day from the port city of Hudaida as fighting between an Arab-coalition and Yemen's Shiite rebels continues to rage there. Thursday's statement by Save the Children says that 6,238 people – half of them...

UAE offers amnesty for foreign workers stuck in Catch-22

The United Arab Emirates has begun a three-month visa amnesty program, hoping to resolve a Catch-22 for foreign workers who are fined daily for overstaying their permits but prevented from leaving until they pay the penalties. The government isn't releasing specific numbers, but says it...

Dissent still not accepted in Saudi, activists must be released: UN

The United Nations human rights office called on Saudi Arabia Tuesday to release all peaceful activists, including women held for campaigning to lift a long-time ban on driving. They included prominent women's rights advocate Hatoon al-Fassi, arrested in June as she was planning to take...

Yemen officials: Bombing in Aden wounds politician, 3 others

Yemeni officials say a roadside bombing in the southern city of Aden has wounded a prominent politician, his son and two other people. The officials say the attack took place Tuesday and targeted Aref Ahmed Ali of the Islah party, which is Yemen's branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, in...

Witnesses: Heavy fighting near Yemen's Hodeida kills dozens

Heavy fighting along Yemen's west coast between pro-government forces and Shiite rebels in recent days has left dozens dead from both sides, Yemeni officials and witnesses said Sunday. Government forces, backed by an Arab-led coalition, have been advancing in the area inrecent weeks as...

Coalition renews strikes on Yemen’s main port city

An Arab-led coalition launched heavy airstrikes on Yemen’s main port city of Hudaida Friday, in an apparent resumption of military operations on the city after the Houthis attacked two Saudi oil tankers, residents said. The coalition on July 1 halted an attack on the Houthi-held city to aid...

Arabi-led coalition launches air strikes on Hudaida

An Arab-led coalition launched heavy air strikes on Yemen's main port city of Hudaida Friday, in an apparent resumption of military operations on the Red Sea city after the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement attacked two Saudi oil tankers. Residents said coalition warplanes had begun their...

UAE denies Abu Dhabi airport attack

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) denied reports on Thursday that Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthi movement had attacked Abu Dhabi airport with a drone, and said operations were unaffected. Houthi-run media said earlier that a Sammad-3 drone had launched three strikes on the facility,...

Houthis target Saudi warship off Yemen coast - Al Masirah TV

The Iran-aligned armed Houthi movement targeted a Saudi Arabian warship off the western coast of Yemen, the group's Al Masirah TV said Wednesday. "The naval force targets the Saudi Dammam ship," the broadcaster wrote on its Twitter feed. There were no immediate reports of damage...

Qatar begins major expansion of Al-Udeid Airbase

Qatar has launched a major project aimed at expanding its Al-Udeid Airbase, according to the Qatar News Agency (QNA). On Tuesday, Prime Minister (and Defense Minister) Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah presided over a ceremony marking the launch of the expansion project, QNA reported....

Yemen government says rebels should free prisoners ahead of talks

Yemen’s government said the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels should release all detainees and captives held in their prisons ahead of peace talks. The Yemeni news agency SABA quoted the government Sunday as saying that the Houthis should also hand over their arms and withdraw from all rebel-held...

10 al-Qaeda fighters killed in Yemen drone strike, clashes

Ten suspected Al-Qaeda fighters and two soldiers fighting for Yemen's government have been killed in clashes and a drone strike, local officials and security sources said Sunday. The U.S. military is the only force known to operate armed drones over Yemen. Officials in Marab...

Chinese president meets top leaders in first visit to UAE

Chinese President Xi Jinping is in the United Arab Emirates meeting with top leaders as the two countries seek to deepen economic ties. Xi, his Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and other Chinese officials held morning meetings Friday with Abu Dhabi's powerful crown prince Sheikh Mohammad bin...

Chinese president visits UAE amid push to increase influence

Chinese President Xi Jinping is heading to Abu Dhabi in his first trip to the United Arab Emirates as the leader of China and as the two countries look to strengthen trade ties and expand investment. It is Xi's first trip abroad since he was appointed to a second five-year term as...

Saudi aviation academy to train first women pilots

A flight school in Saudi Arabia is opening its doors for women, following the end of a decades-long driving ban in the deeply conservative Muslim country where many social restrictions are easing. Oxford Aviation Academy, a leading trainer and crew recruiter, has already received...

Yemen rebel chief praises Iran, Hezbollah

Yemen's rebel chief Friday praised Iran and its ally Hezbollah, singling out the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah for his "solidarity." But Abdulmalik al-Houthi, whose fighters are battling Yemen's Arab-coalition backed government, again denied accusations of receiving smuggled weapons from...

Amnesty fears war crimes in UAE-run Yemen prisons

Human rights violations in a string of Yemeni prisons run by the United Arab Emirates could amount to war crimes, Amnesty International said Thursday in a report promptly rejected by the U.A.E. It called for investigations by the U.A.E and allies including the United States into a...

Saudi Arabia says it intercepts Houthi missile

Saudi Arabia's air defense forces intercepted a missile fired at its southwestern region of Jizan by Yemen's Houthi movement, Saudi state media said Tuesday. Houthi-run al-Masirah TV had said earlier that a Badr 1 missile had been aimed at Jizan Economic City. There were no immediate...