MUST-READS

• U.S. - Afghanistan
  Last of 82nd Airborne Division soldiers in Afghanistan heading home

  The brigade served as Afghanistan's lone aviation task force at a time when it was in high demand, supporting the U.S. drawdown in that county and then, with a much smaller force, continuing its role for a new mission with fewer troops spread across a larger geographical area.

  • Long War Journal - Islamic State promotes training camp in eastern Afghanistan
  • Foreign Policy - Afghanistan Watchdog: Poor U.S. Planning Puts $488 Million at Risk
• Drones: Iraq
  Private Surveillance Drones Take Flight Over Iraq

  It was a clear day in mid-March when a drone flew over the disputed city of Sinjar in northern Iraq, photographing Islamic State’s fighting positions.

• Maersk Tigris
  Iran seizes cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz

  The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Farragut is racing toward the scene of a confrontation between several Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels and a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

  • USA Today - Ship seizures in Strait of Hormuz are rare despite tensions
  • Defense One - Here's Why Iran's Seizure of a Cargo Ship Is So Odd, and Disturbing
  • The National - Crew on Iran-seized ship ‘safe and in good spirits’
• Adel Al-Jubeir
  Saudi foreign minister is Washington insider, confidant of king

  Saudi Arabia's new foreign minister, a U.S.-educated connoisseur of Washington's diplomatic scene and longtime adviser to the kingdom's rulers, is an articulate spokesman for his country's new assertive approach to the Middle East's growing conflicts.

  • SUSRIS - New Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir
• War in Yemen: Military Bonus
  Saudi king orders one-month salary bonus for security personnel

  Saudi Arabia's King Salman ordered on Wednesday a one-month salary bonus for all military and security personnel to convey his "appreciation of their efforts", the official SPA news agency announced.

• Ministry of Health
  Aramco CEO Khalid al-Falih appointed Saudi health minister

  Saudi King Salman on Wednesday appointed Saudi Aramco Chief Executive and President Khalid al-Falih as the country's health minister and chairman of the state oil company in the world's top crude exporter, state television said.

• Global Oil Markets
  Oil dips on oversupply after Saudi reshuffle

  Oil prices slipped on Wednesday on oversupply after news that King Salman of Saudi Arabia had altered the kingdom's line of royal succession in a dramatic reshuffle.

  • Brookings Institution - Are low oil prices here to stay?
• Saudi Leadership
  Saudi King Implements Major Cabinet Reshuffle

  Saudi Arabia's new king has announced a major cabinet reshuffle that puts in place a new generation to succeed him.

  • Middle East Monitor - World's longest serving FM steps down in major Saudi reshuffle
  • Washington Post - In a surprise move, Saudi Arabia’s king shakes up line of succession
  • Reuters - Saudi king resets succession to cope with turbulent times
  • SUSRIS - Breaking News | Leadership Shakeup
  • SUSRIS - New Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef
  • WSJ (paywall) - Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Changes Line of Succession in Major Reshuffle
• Gulf Military Spending
  Military Spending and Arms Sales in the Gulf

  The summary  data show that the Arab Gulf states have a decisive advantage over Iran in both the size of their recent military spending and the size and quality of their arms transfers and imports of military technology.

• Syria - Iran
  Why Iran is standing by its weakened, and expensive, ally Syria

  Iranian officials have declared that Syria is of supreme strategic importance, and appear unwilling to reconsider the military option in defeating the anti-Assad rebels. The question is how much longer Iran, a country burdened by international sanctions, can afford to continue allocating funds, materiel, and manpower to Mr. Assad while incurring ever greater animosity – and now blowback – from the region’s Sunni states.

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