Saudi, Turkish, and Pakistani military leaders met in Riyadh on September 25 to discuss military coordination, intelligence sharing and the integration of their capabilities, as Riyadh seeks stronger support amid escalating Houthi attacks.

After government forces in yemen made gains against the Houthis with heavy Saudi airstrikes and support, their positions unexpectedly collapsed on September 9, 2026, forcing troops to withdraw and leave heavy weapons behind following a Houthi counteroffensive backed by missiles and drones.

The original agreement signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman in Washington on July 22, 2026, was a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia, not a normalization deal.

The rapprochement between Hamas and Mohammad Dahlan’s faction is taking on a political and electoral dimension, with talks of a broad alliance including Islamic Jihad, leftist groups and independents to contest the November 28, 2026, legislative elections.

The handwritten message from UAE President MBZ to Saudi King Salman was formally an invitation to the 2026 UN Water Conference, but diplomats saw its timing and its direct address to the king as an attempt to bypass Crown Prince MBS, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler.