[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
Sales of weapons to Gulf states up 70% over five years Saeed Kamali Dehghan and Richard Norton-Taylor report on the Gulf states’ purchases of arms in the last five years.
Putin letter to Arab summit triggers strong Saudi attack The Saudi foreign minister rebukes Vladimir Putin and accuses Russia of playing an essential role in the tragedy in Syria.
Saudi Arabia decides to restore ambassador to Sweden: Al Arabiya TV Saudi Arabia decides to send its ambassador back to Sweden.
Stocks slide, oil prices jump after Yemen air strikes Michael Connor analyzes the impact of the Saudi military operation in Yemen on the price of oil.
Reports and Opinions
Raif Badawi tells of flogging ordeal in letter from Saudi prison Raif Badawi writes a letter from prison on his flogging.
Saudi Arabia to Impose Taxes on Undeveloped Urban Land Ahmed Al Omran reports on Saudi Arabia’s move to impose taxes on undeveloped plots of land in urban areas to tackle the housing shortage problem.
Repression in Bahrain
MOI warns against division, sedition Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior warns that it will take steps against citizens who criticize the Bahraini regime’s involvement in the Saudi-led operation in Yemen.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemen on brink of humanitarian crisis amid rising food shortages, says Unicef Sam Jones maintains that Yemen could suffer “a major humanitarian crisis” if the international community does not help it feed and vaccinate its children.
Yemen strife threatens neighbours too Gamal Gasim argues that the ongoing instability in Yemen will affect the region.
Regional rivalries threaten to tear Yemen apart Iona Craig maintains that foreign agendas could exacerbate the crisis in Yemen.
Yemen crisis talks to be held in Doha, says UN The United Nations envoy to Yemen says last week that UN-brokered talks would be held in Doha.
Yemen: Could looming civil war enable a Saleh comeback? Amel Ahmed analyzes the former Yemeni president’s political power.
Yemen over the edge Martin Reardon argues that no matter who wins in Yemen in the end, al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula will still be there.
Fears growing in Yemen over Houthis' advance to Aden Saeed Al Batati reports on the political situation in Yemen last week as the Houthis began their advance on Aden.
Yemen edges towards all-out civil war as rebels advance on city of Aden Kareem Shaheed analyzes the implication of the Houthis’ advance on Aden.
Yemen president 'in safety' as rebels advance A news report on Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi’s whereabouts as the Houthis advance on Aden.
Iran-backed rebels loot Yemen files about U.S. spy operations The Houthis seize secret files held by Yemeni security forces that contain details of US intelligence operations in Yemen.
Yemeni minister urges Gulf Arab military intervention against Houthis The Yemeni foreign minister, Riyadh Yaseen, calls for Gulf Arab military intervention in Yemen to halt the advances of the Houthi fighters.
Saudi Arabia moves military equipment to border with Yemen US officials say that Saudi Arabia is moving heavy military equipment near its border with Yemen.
Yemen protesters killed after Houthi rebels fire bullets and teargas into crowd The Houthis use violence to disperse thousands of protesters in the cities of Taiz and Torba.
Iran-Saudi proxy war in Yemen explodes into region-wide crisis Simon Tisdall argues that Yemen’s undeclared civil war has exploded into a region-wide crisis.
Yemen crisis: Houthi rebels are Iran stooges, says Hadi Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi accuses the Houthis of being Iran’s stooges.
Saudi Arabia launches Yemen air strikes as alliance builds against Houthi rebels Dan Roberts and Kareem Shaheen report on the beginning of Operation Decisive Storm.
Saudi and Arab allies bomb Houthi positions in Yemen A news report on the Saudi-led coalition, which includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Pakistan, and Morocco.
Yemen crisis: Dozens killed as warplanes strike Houthi targets in Sanaa, officials say A news report on the death toll of the Saudi airstrikes in Yemen.
Saudis Attack Houthis: Confusion, Foreboding Sheila Carapico analyzes the implication of Saudi Arabia’s military operation in Yemen.
What’s Really Behind the Saudi Attack on Yemen Juan Cole examines Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy under King Salman.
With Yemen strikes, Saudis show growing independence from U.S. Matt Spetalnick, Warren Strobel, and Mark Hosenball argue that Saudi Arabia kept some key details of its military operation in Yemen from Washington until the last minute.
Gulf states consider Yemen ground offensive to halt Houthi rebel advance The Gulf states may begin a ground offensive in Yemen.
Yemen conflict poised to escalate as Egypt says it is ready to send troops Egypt declares that it is ready to send ground troops to Yemen.
Sources: Four Egyptian naval vessels en route to secure Gulf of Aden Egypt sent four naval vessels across the Suez Canal to secure the Gulf of Aden.
Saudis pledge to continue Yemen bombing campaign The Saudi-led coalition vows to continue its military operation in Yemen.
Arab states see a month of Yemen strikes, maybe longer, official says A Gulf diplomat asserts that the military operation in Yemen could last five or six months.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels advance despite Saudi-led air strikes The Houthis make military gains in the south and east on Friday despite the Saudi airstrikes.
Saudi planes pound Yemeni capital in second night of bombing, witnesses say A news report on the second day of airstrikes in Yemen.
The Saudi-Iran powerplay behind the Yemen conflict Nussaibah Younis argues that Riyadh’s decision to launch airstrikes in Yemen will further escalate its rivalry with Tehran.
LIVE: Protest in Sanaa amidst Saudi airstrikes on Yemen A video posted by Russia Today on protests in Yemen against the Saudi airstrikes.
Arab League unveils joint military force amid Yemen crisis Hamza Hendawi maintains that the Arab summit has ended with a vow to defeat the Houthis.
Yemen strikes will continue until Hadi can rule: Saudi spokesman A Saudi military spokesperson asserts that the airstrikes in Yemen will continue until Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi can rule again.
Pakistan evacuates hundreds during pause in Yemen strikes: Saudi official Pakistan evacuates its citizens in Yemen.
Elite Iranian guards training Yemen's Houthis: U.S. officials US officials claim that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel have trained and equipped Houthi units.
Saudi Arabia's Yemen gamble may define its regional role for years Angus McDowall argues that Saudi Arabia’s campaign to stop the Houthis from ruling Yemen could define its role in the Middle East for years.
More teenage recruits as Yemen conflict intensifies, U.N. says Tom Esslemont claims that all warring parties in Yemen are using teenage boys to swell their ranks.
Red Cross urges all sides in Yemen to obey laws of war The International Committee of the Red Cross calls on all sides involved in the conflict in Yemen to respect the rules of war.
Loyalists of former Yemen ruler reject foreign intervention Army officers loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh firmly reject foreign intervention in Yemen.
War in Yemen: Riyadh enters the fray An Economist article on the Saudi attack on Yemen.
Into the Maelstrom: The Saudi-Led Misadventure in Yemen Frederic Wehrey argues that the Saudi operation in Yemen will bolster the popular support of the Houthis and create opportunities for the flouring of al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula and the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
Yemen and beyond Marwan Bishara writes on “what we know and don’t know” about the Saudi military operation in Yemen.
What they won't admit at the Arab Summit Marwan Bishara says that Arab leaders will not “take responsibility for the dreadful situation they helped bring about.”
Analysis: Yemen's shifting political alliances Gamal Gasim examines the shifting political alliances in Yemen following the Saudi airstrikes.
Fighting grips Aden as Houthis continue to push south A news report on recent military developments in Aden.
Houthis threaten Saudi Arabia with suicide bombings The Houthis say that they will undertake suicide operations in Saudi Arabia if the latter does not stop its airstrikes.
Operation Decisive Storm and the Expanding Counter-Revolution John M. Willis argues that Operation Decisive Storm “raises the specter of a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, executed by a coalition of Sunni states and Iran’s Shi‘i proxies.”
The Economist explains: What is going on in Yemen? The Economist provides a background to the conflict in Yemen.
Media
Yemeni journalists face increasing danger as conflict worsens Roy Greenslade reports on the danger facing journalists in Yemen as the military and political situation deteriorates.
Migrant Workers
Watch: A Bahraini tries living a day in the life of a migrant worker Adam Taylor reports on Yousif Hassan who decided to live as a low-paid convenience store worker to show the gulf between his life and that of migrant workers.
French builder Vinci to sue over claims of forced labor in Qatar French construction giant Vinci denies allegations that it violated rights of migrant workers in Qatar.
Human Rights
Yemen: Six children among dozens killed in Saudi Arabian-led airstrikes Amnesty International deplores the death of six children in the Saudi military operation in Yemen.
Cease Arrests Over Talks of War and Respect International Humanitarian Law The Bahrain Center for Human Rights condemns the targeting of Bahrain citizens who spoke against Bahrain’s involvement in the military operation in Yemen.
Yemen: Saudi-Led Airstrikes Take Civilian Toll Human Rights Watch expresses concern over the death of civilians in the Saudi airstrikes in Yemen.
Dispatches: In Bahrain, Don’t Mention the War Nicholas McGeehan, from Human Rights Watch, reports on the statement issued by the Bahraini ministry of interior, which cautioned citizens against criticizing the authorities’ decision to send eight fighter jets to Yemen.
Kuwait: Opposition Protest Broken Up Human Rights Watch condemns the Kuwaiti authorities’ decision to break up an opposition protest in Kuwait City.
Bahrain: Authorities continue to target women’s rights defender Ghada Jamsheer The Gulf Center for Human Rights depolores the ongoing harassment of Ghada Jamsheer.
Oman: Online activist Talib Al-Saedi held incommunicado The Gulf Center for Human Rights reports on the deention of Talib al-Saedi.