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In addition to internal opposition to Iraqi rearmament from some Kurdish and Shia MPs, another driver for delays to the Iraqi Air Force (IrAF)’s procurement of Lockheed Martin F-16C/Ds seems to be the persistent competitive lobbying of foreign vendors.

The role of the anti-Qadhafi camp’s most prominent Arab supporters is likely to come under new scrutiny, as sources suggest that Abu Dhabi could play a big role in helping the Benghazi rebels to resume oil production

Counter-terrorism officials continue to fear a simultaneous strike on US and Saudi interests by AQAP. While energy infrastructure remains a potential target, AQAP’s ability to carry out a successful operation is limited and it is seen as more likely that the organisation will pursue a ‘hybrid’ attack that ticks the ‘near enemy’ and ‘far enemy’ boxes, most likely a western compound.

Assistant interior minister Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef Al-Saud attended a joint tactical exercise near Riyadh in late June.

A row has broken out about the possible sale of Germany’s Leopard II tanks to Saudi Arabia. News of a deal was leaked by Spiegel magazine in early July and was quickly picked up by the international media after German MPs said the deal would contravene export guidelines.

Gulf-based observers say Qatar’s land border with Saudi Arabia along the Khor Al-Udeid inlet at the south-eastern foot of Qatar has changed. According to one Doha-based source, “the border changed a couple of months ago; it has been officially noted by the government mapping agency”.

As the new emir of Al-Qaeda, Ayman Al-Zawahiri and the leadership around him are likely to attempt to continue business as usual and stamp their authority on the organisation. The most visible and effective means of maintaining unity in the ranks will be to carry out more attacks on the West

The Arab world’s recent uprisings present a serious challenge to Al-Qaeda ideology, demonstrating that regimes can be removed through means other than armed jihad and that the US will support the people – undermining a key tenet of Al-Qaeda’s ‘far enemy’ characterisation of the US. Analysts regard the death of Osama Bin Laden on 2 May as less significant. It was a shot in the arm for US President Barack Obama, but delivered little more than raw justice. Even the intelligence trove discovered at Bin Laden’s property in Abbottabad, Pakistan, appears to have lacked operational relevance and was fascinating only to Bin Laden gurus in the US counter-terrorism community.

Nawaf Obaid, a researcher at the King Faisal Centre, has written an article in the Washington Post describing an about-turn in Saudi foreign policy, the possible deployment of Saudi special forces abroad and the end of a US-Saudi relationship based on security for oil. But Riyadh continues to look to the US for arms and military training.

The US has made it clear to Baghdad that time is running out if Iraqis want it to maintain a military presence after the 31 December deadline for withdrawal. The point of no return is approaching fast

The detention of Emiratis critical of government policies shows the government is in no mood for a ‘people’s coup’. But the arrests have also shone a light on the country’s vibrant and diverse reform movement

Western governments are reluctant to back popular revolts for fear Al-Qaeda will fill the vacuum if President Saleh goes. But Marib province shows there are several Islamist interests to consider, reports Our Yemen Correspondent

Described by some as a ‘pragmatic move by a pragmatic’ man, Emir Sheikh Hamad is undoubtedly carving out an independent foreign policy for Qatar

President Ali Abdullah Saleh faces increased pressure as the wave of unrest sweeping the Middle East and North Africa has ignited mass protests on the streets of the capital, Sanaa.

In a show of force, and an attempt to clear mass protests around Pearl Roundabout, the Bahraini security services with the help of its GCC 'brothers' have been deployed across the country. The long-term implications for Bahrain, politically, socially and economically, remain unknown; however, its ramifications could spread beyond the island's borders.