Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East. It is in political turmoil, with Saleh widely thought to retain a key role behind the scenes.

North Sinai is the epicenter of an Islamist militant insurgency that has killed hundreds of police and soldiers Islamist president Mursi ouster.

Netanyahu was invited by House Speaker John Boehner in what is seen as a rebuke to U.S. President Barack Obama's Iran policy.

Russian President Putin once again threatened gas supplies for the fourth time in a decade if Moscow did not receive advance payment.