NEW: @madisonschramm.bsky.social, Caitlin McCulloch & I map out the paths to power for women leaders in the wake of crises and conflict in International Studies Review

AFP reports recently sacked defence minister, who travelled with the STC delegation to Riyadh, is being detained at the Saudi defence ministry, his family have been unable to contact him since he left Aden for Riyadh on Wednesday - added to the entire STC delegation already said to be incommunicado.

STC Vice President (not in Saudi) Hani bin Brek is calling for the UN "to urgently and immediately intervene for the release of the delegation of the STC detained in Riyadh, which was forcibly compelled in a repulsive farcical play to announce the dissolution of the Southern Transitional Council."

April Longley Alley explains the conflict dynamics underlying the latest escalation in Yemen. Wouldn’t be shocking for the Houthis to take advantage of the moment by renewing their offensive in Marib. www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...

More escalation in Yemen today, with reports of airstrikes amidst clashes between (Saudi-backed) National Shield forces and (UAE-backed) STC-aligned fighters in Hadramawt.

For those interested in the origins of the Saudi-UAE rift in Yemen, my book,The Yemen Model, includes a discussion on pp. 83-89: www.amazon.com/Yemen-Model-...

UAE-KSA tensions getting spicy in southern Yemen after STC takeover

The campaign to prevent and treat these diseases has seen great success thanks to a USAID program. Now that program is gone. n.pr/3KJ3iIq

The death rate among children under 5 is expected to grow this year for the first time in the 21st century, researchers say. A key factor, they say, is cuts to U.S. and other foreign aid www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

This leaves the STC and its allies in de facto control of nearly all of the area within the borders former PDRY (ie South Yemen). A key 48 hours for facts being established on the ground...

"The new fighting underscores simmering tensions between the United Arab Emirates — a tiny but influential country in the Persian Gulf — and Saudi Arabia, which borders Hadramout and has cultivated deep influence there."

Last month, I had the chance to chat with the incomparable @profwhw.bsky.social about "Why Democracies Fight Dictators" on Battle Rhythm—check it out here!

Goedert and Slim Reaper both under-appreciated this season imho

Best piece I’ve read on Saudi’s comedy festival by a mile. Unlike standard critics of “-washing” (sports-washing, pink-washing, green-washing & now comedy-washing), Leber grapples w/ domestic drivers of regime behaviour—and w/ how many everyday Saudis feel. carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...

Everyone better apologize to @daboulciff.bsky.social smh

Why do democracies fight dictators like Nasser & Saddam? In her new book, @madisonschramm.bsky.social shows how personalist autocrats provide a focal point for emotional imprinting, predisposing leaders in liberal democracies to view personalist dictators as hostile academic.oup.com/book/60422

Another attack today on a cargo ship in the Red Sea, two days after a Houthi attack sunk the bulk carrier ship Magic Seas: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/w...

I have a new article out examining macro-level trends in the Saudi labor market. TLDR: "notable yet circumscribed gains for Saudi employees," "new competitive pressure, costs and risks on expat[s]," no "fundamental challenge" to reliance on foreign labor journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

The Houthi armed forces announces their latest operations, acknowledge Trump’s truce declaration and say they remain ready to strike if U.S. attacks resume. Either way, they will keep hitting Israeli shipping and air travel until Israel leaves Gaza and ends its blockade. www.saba.ye/ar/video890....

Breaking: Another F/A-18 fighter jet from the Truman aircraft carrier has been lost in the Red Sea, the second jet lost from the carrier in just over a week, per 4 people familiar w/the incident. 2 aviators ejected and were recovered by helo with minor injuries. www.cnn.com/2025/05/06/p...

A visual analysis shows the U.S. likely bombed a migrant detention center in Yemen on April 28. At least three U.S.-made GBU-39 bombs at the site of the attack, which killed 68 African migrants, according to the Houthis, a militant group that controls northern Yemen.

US Airstrike Kills Scores of African Migrants in a Migrant Detention Center in Saada, Yemen, Houthis Say. Early estimates suggest at least 68 civilians killed and "dozens" wounded; CENTCOM "investigating"

Suggests that the Houthi got close enough with a drone or missile strike to force the Truman to maneuver hard, tossing the Super Hornet overboard. This is the second F/A-18 lost in the past six months, along with at least 9 Predator drones. This "cheap" war in Yemen is starting to add up

A $60 million US Navy fighter jet was lost at sea after it fell overboard from an aircraft carrier.

Thanks to @bashareport.bsky.social for this lovely review!

I had the pleasure of reviewing @alexstark.bsky.social book: The Yemen Model for the German-Yemeni Society‘s Jemen Report @djg-ev.bsky.social If you are interested in reading the book review please send me a direct message.

We’ve recorded a total of 142 civilian casualties (killed and injured) in 131 U.S. strikes from 15 March to 7 April. An average of more than 5 strikes per day.

My book The Yemen Model argues that a short-term approach to “security” in Yemen that ignores the well-being of Yemenis themselves has repeatedly drawn the U.S. into conflicts in the Middle East: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...

Who are the Houthis and what do they want? I wrote this over a year ago but the history of the Houthis and what they want is just as relevant today: www.foreignaffairs.com/africa/dont-...

@abuaardvark.bsky.social 's latest post for MENA Academy highlight @alexstark.bsky.social 's excellent book "The Yemen Model" (I'm biased but it's good!), a grim reminder of the human cost of 20+ years of missiles-first US policy towards Yemen. abuaardvark.substack.com/p/the-yemen-...

“Shipping executives say they do not plan to return to the Red Sea until there is a broad Middle East peace accord that includes the Houthis or a decisive defeat of the militia” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/b...

Looking to understand the origins of the latest strikes in Yemen? My book, The Yemen Model, explores the roots of the conflict and the U.S. response:

Reports warn that Gaza ceasefire might fall apart and South Sudan might collapse due to suspension of USAID aid

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NEW & IMPORTANT: Ok everyone. We wrote about this aid freeze on Friday, but it has become clearer since that the fallout is VAST. It affects US national security, global health, food insecurity, etc etc. We are still trying to understand the scope. Here’s our latest: www.politico.com/news/2025/01...

Houthis Have Pledged to Stop Targeting Ships (other than those they think are ties to Israel) But Shippers Are Wary of Red Sea Routes www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Today marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day, "the struggle between memory and forgetting goes on – and memory seems to be losing." Read @andrewstroehlein.bsky.social's Daily Brief:

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Now online ft. @zeinmurib.bsky.social! "The rapid proliferation of countermobilizations that target the extension of membership to sexual and gender minorities in the polity requires urgent attention from political scientists..." doi.org/10.1017/S104...

APNewsAlert: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — UN says it suspends all movement into territory held by #Yemen's Houthi rebels after more staffers detained.

After 14 months of being held hostage by the Houthis, the crew of the Galaxy Leader are finally free.

The head of the Norwegian Refugee Council said US President Donald Trump's order to halt foreign aid for 90 days would have immediate and disastrous consequences in Afghanistan where relief operations are already stretched thin reut.rs/3CgDPBY

Trump suspends U.S. foreign aid for 90 days, saying aid is “antithetical to American values” and serves to “destabilize world peace.” apnews.com/article/trum...

My colleagues @crisisgroup.org just published a new briefing on #Sudan’s devastating civil war, now the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. They look at what outside powers can and should do to push both warring parties toward a desperately needed ceasefire. www.crisisgroup.org/africa/horn-...