Saudi and UAE leaders meet amid Houthi attacks

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met United Arab Emirates Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Riyadh on September 29, as Saudi Arabia faces weeks of Houthi missile and drone attacks and the two Gulf states seek to manage a period of strained relations. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman also attended the meeting. Saudi accounts said the leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional developments. The public descriptions did not announce a specific agreement on Yemen or detail any joint steps against the Houthis. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman had invited Mansour, according to the Saudi defence ministry, which said the two officials also discussed cooperation and coordination between their countries. The meeting came amid attacks that have heightened pressure on Riyadh. Reports described Houthi missiles and drones targeting Saudi Arabia over a period of weeks; accounts also cited attacks on oil facilities, airports, tankers and the capital. Saudi Arabia has been carrying out strikes against the Houthis and seeking support from international partners, though the extent of any request to the UAE was not clear.