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The Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) has suffered the loss of one of its soldiers in Yemen. Few details were given about what happened to Warrant Officer Jumaa Mubarak Salim, whose body was returned to Isa Airbase on 26 June. The official report only said he had lost his life while serving in the BDF taskforce operating as part of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.

A Syrian identified as Yaser Mohammed Al-Barrazi and a Filipino “accomplice” were arrested in a raid on an illegal explosives factory in Riyadh, the Ministry of Interior said on 3 October. Al-Barrazi has been accused of plotting attacks. The raid, which took place on 1 October, found two explosives belts and bomb-making equipment. Those arrested belonged to a “deviant group”, the ministry said, using terminology often applied by the authorities to Al-Qaeda or Islamic State affiliates.

The Baghdad government has held talks with Moscow on an order for up to $1bn-worth of tanks, Russian media reported. President Vladimir Putin discussed the deal to supply T-90 tanks with Vice President Nuri Al-Maliki in Moscow on 25 July, according to the TASS news agency.

With the Yemeni military preoccupied by domestic power plays, Saudi Arabia is looking to other local proxies – some linked to ultra-radical Islamists – to help contain the perceived Al Houthi threat to the Kingdom’s security. But it is increasingly likely that the Saudi military will again engage directly in northern Yemen, with talk of revenge as well as containment following the Houthi’s 2009 victory the last time Riyadh intervened

An upsurge in interest in the tiny emirate puts the spotlight once again on the struggle for power between the aged ruler’s feuding sons

The US State Department has approved a $500m package of technical support, engineering services and hardware sales for Saudi Arabia’s missile defences. The deal, announced on 17 January, includes continued participation in the field surveillance programmes for Patriot Legacy and Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) systems, as well as spare parts and services for Patriot and Hawk missile systems. The principal suppliers are Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Company.

The Al-Houthis' threat to a united Yemeni state is less well articulated than the Southern Movement's challenge to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, but it remains a major thorn in Sanaa's flesh. In spite of Qatari and domestic

Dubai has responded strongly to the 20 January killing in the Al-Bustan Rotana Hotel of Hamas official Mahmud Al-Mabhuh.

UK defence secretary Michael Fallon has warned parliament that criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the Yemen conflict could damage prospects for a major defence deal. The UK is pressing Riyadh to confirm a proposed deal to buy 48 more Eurofighter Typhoon jets from BAE Systems, which recently announced it is laying off workers due to lack of orders.

Despite huge efforts to advance the capability of the Iraqi Air Force, it will be at least four years before an initial 18 F-16s will be operational, leaving Iraq exposed to Iran in the east and, more significantly, Israel in the west

Idex was followed by UAE Armed Forces performing a live multi-service demonstration, named Hosn Al-Ittihad (Union Fortress), which attracted large crowds and much of the leadership on Abu Dhabi corniche (see Royals watch).A mock yacht hostage rescue was staged with the UAE Presidential Guard, Joint Aviation Command, navy, air force, army, and Special Operations forces responding. Special forces troops parachuted onto the yacht; they were supported by soldiers who approached via submersible delivery vehicles and escorted by rotary and fixed wing aircraft. It all ended with the UAE Air Force’s Al-Forsan display team showing its technical capabilities.

Against the backdrop of a major reshuffle of senior defence officials, Riyadh hosted the Armed Forces Exhibition for Diversity of Requirements and Capabilities on 25 February-3 March. It was a chance for Saudi firms to showcase their ability to meet local defence requirements – which they are proving ever more adept at.Turkey was designated the guest of honour at the exhibition, which drew some comment in the kingdom, given Ankara’s key role in supporting Qatar in its diplomatic stand-off with Riyadh and its allies.

The case filed by Oman’s State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) against Bulgaria at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes was finally constituted in mid-February. Tribunal members have been appointed: Vaughan Lowe, a practising barrister and professor at the University of Oxford’s law faculty is president; Canadian national David Haigh is the arbitrator appointed by Oman; Bulgaria has appointed French national Brigitte Stern (emeritus professor of international law at the University of Paris).

On 30 December 2011, the US Defence Department announced that the UAE would be allowed to purchase Lockheed Martin Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile interceptor systems

Lockheed Martin Corporation has received a $142.75m fixed-price Foreign Military Sales contract for 12 M142 high-mobility artillery rocket systems (Himars). Lockheed said that, as well as work on the units to be performed in Camden, Arkansas and Dallas, Texas – with an estimated completion date of 30 December 2017 – a small component of the procurement would include “synergistic spares purchase for Jordan”. The launcher is C-130 transportable, with a chassis manufactured by BAE Systems Mobility & Protection Systems and launch system produced by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control.