Briefly

SAUDI ARABIA

Riyadh gets first major arms deal under Biden

The US State Department approved its first major arms sale to Saudi Arabia under President Joe Biden with the sale of 280 air-to-air missiles valued at up to $650 million, the Pentagon said on Thursday. While Saudi Arabia is an important partner in the Middle East, US lawmakers have criticized Riyadh for its involvement in the war in Yemen, a conflict considered one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.

ETHIOPIA

Tigray forces form alliance in Washington

Rebel Tigray forces in Ethiopia are joining with other armed and opposition groups in an alliance against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government to seek a political transition after a year of devastating civil conflict, organizers said on Thursday. A formal pact signing was expected in Washington on Friday local time. This came as the international community on Thursday called for an immediate cease-fire in Ethiopia after Tigrayan forces said they made advances toward the capital this past week.

Agencies - Xinhua