Qatari FM Dismisses Reported Saudi Threats over S-400 Deal

Qatar's foreign minister dismissed reports of threats of military action by Saudi Arabia over Doha's plans to acquire the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, saying Qatar's decision to buy weapons is a "sovereign" one.

Top UN humanitarian official voices concern about insufficient food imports to Yemen

UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock on Tuesday expressed concern about insufficient commercial imports, particularly food, to Yemen.

International flights to Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region resumes

Iraqi Interior Minister Qassim al-Araji on Wednesday announced that a months-long federal ban on international flights into and out of northern Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-held region has officially been lifted.

More than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza died from Israeli blockade

The Gaza Strip's collective of charitable organisations said more than 1,000 Palestinians have died as a result of the ongoing Israeli blockade on the coastal enclave.

Mogherini Says US Economic Blockade of Cuba 'Obsolete, Illegal'

The economic "blockade" of Cuba is not a solution to the existing problems in relations between Havana and Washington, since it only diminshes the living standards of Cuban nationals, EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini has said.

North Korea vows to respond to any U.S. naval blockade

Pyongyang pledged to deal with a possible U.S. plan to place a naval blockade that would prevent ships from leaving or entering North Korea, weeks after the plan was raised as an issue on Dec. 1.

UN Official Urges Lifting of Yemen Blockade as Required by International Law

UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen Jamie McGoldrick said that about 8.4 million Yemenis are "a step away from famine" and depend on UN operations for safe water, food, medicine and shelter.

UN Chief Calls for Pressure on Saudis to End 'Stupid' Yemen War

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that the Yemen war is causing terrible suffering to the Yemeni people and called for a renewed push to end the "stupid war", there.

Humanitarian flights land in rebel-held Yemeni capital after blockade lifted

At least four humanitarian flights on Saturday landed in the airport of Yemen's capital Sana'a, which is controlled by Houthi rebels, two days after the Saudi Arabia-led coalition lifted a blockade imposed on the airport.

Yemeni Official Denies Reports about Aid Ships Arriving at Hudeida Seaport

The director of Yemen’s Hudeida seaports Mohammad Abu Bakr Saqqaf stressed on Saturday that the continued closure of Hudeida seaport may lead to a humanitarian disaster, denying all the reports which mentioned that aid ships arrived at the Hudeida and Saleef seaports and accusing the command of the Saudi aggression of beguilement.

Key ports for humanitarian shipments to Yemen remain closed: UN

Two key ports for humanitarian shipments to Yemen have remained closed since Nov. 6, bringing famine closer to Yemenis, said the United Nations on Tuesday.

Saudi Warplanes Strike Sanaa Airport to Disrupt Aid Flights

The Saudi warplanes raided on Tuesday Sanaa airport, destroying the radar systems and consequently disrupting the landing of the planes carrying aids to the Yemenis.

Saudi Arabia says it will reopen Yemen airports, seaports within 24 hours

Saudi Arabia said Monday that the Saudi-led coalition fighting Shia rebels in Yemen will begin reopening airports and seaports in the Arab world's poorest country, days after closing them over a rebel ballistic missile attack on Riyadh.

Saudi-led coalition reopens 2 airports in Yemen as famine worries mount

Saudi-led alliance lifted a blockade of two key airports in Yemen, broadcaster Al Arabiya reported on Saturday, amid warnings that millions in the war-torn country could starve without deliveries of food aid.

Yemen’s Supreme Political Council Calls for Massive Rally against Saudi Blockade

Yemen’s Supreme Political Council called on the people of the Arabian Peninsula country to participate in a massive rally in the capital on Monday to condemn the Saudi-led coalition’s blockade of all air, sea and land ports into the country.

Iran Imposes Fuel Boycott on Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Iran ordered its state and private sector companies to ban cargoes of fuel products heading to or coming from the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

Saudi Arabia Suspends Any Dialogue with Qatar

Saudi Arabia on Saturday suspended any dialogue with Qatar, accusing it of “distorting facts”, just after a report of a phone call between the leaders of both countries suggested a breakthrough in the Persian Gulf dispute.

Hamas Makes Demands as UN Chief Arrives in Gaza for Visit

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, welcomed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Wednesday by demanding he work to lift the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the strip and save it from a humanitarian crisis.

HRW sounds alarm at Italy's anti-migrant mission

Human Rights Watch, the rights advocacy group, has given warning that Italy's naval mission to prevent refugees and migrants from setting sail from Libya for Europe could see Italy commit human-rights abuses.

EU top diplomat to visit Kuwait as part of mediation efforts to end Gulf crisis

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will visit Kuwait on Sunday as part of the intensified mediation efforts to end the Gulf standoff, the official news agency KUNA reported Monday.