The US has begun reducing its military forces and capabilities in the Gulf region, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
President Biden directed the Pentagon to move resources away from the region as the administration looks to reduce its military presence in the Middle East.
The US has removed at least three Patriot anti-missile batteries from the Gulf region, including one from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia that had been placed there in recent years, the Journal reported.
Other military reductions include an aircraft carrier and surveillance systems, which will be redirected to other undisclosed regions, and more are being considered.
With the removal of military equipment, a reduction in personnel can also be expected.
As of late 2020, there were 50,000 American troops stationed in the region, down from a high of about 90,000 at the beginning of the year, when tensions between former president Donald Trump and Iran were at an all-time high.
"The Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff continue to work with Combatant Commanders and the Services to advise the Secretary of Defense on resource allocations for US operations around the world according to priorities, threats and opportunities," Pentagon Spokesperson Commander Jessica L. McNulty told The National.
"Without speaking to specific capabilities, we continue to take a strategic approach to the allocation of forces and routinely make adjustments to account for a wide number of factors.”
The move to reduce America’s military presence in the Gulf comes as attacks from Yemen's Houthi forces against longtime US ally Saudi Arabia have intensified and increasingly targeted civilians.
On Thursday, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed an attack against Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh, with military spokesman Yahya Saree saying four explosive-laden drones targeted "sensitive and important sites".
Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the attack.
Weeks into his presidency, Mr Biden announced the US would end support for Saudi-led offensive operations in Yemen.
Mr Biden has been reshaping the US role in the Middle East as he looks to detach from the region, which has been a top US military priority for decades.
He has instead focused on dealing with what he considers to be top competitors, like China and Russia, in his foreign policy.
Mr Biden faces a May 1 deadline to decide on whether to pull US troops from Afghanistan, where they have been deployed for nearly two decades.
The US has 2,500 troops in Afghanistan but is looking for a political settlement between Taliban insurgents and the government in Kabul that would allow them to leave.
“It’s going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline just in terms of tactical reasons," Mr Biden has said. "It’s hard to get those troops out."
It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
