Key Takeaways:

• The al Houthis reported that they signed an economic deal with Iran to improve Yemen’s power grid as well as al Hudaydah seaport. Iran appears to be bolstering the al Houthi-led government by providing this support. Saudi economic assistance ended in December 2014 and the al Houthis face increasing regional isolation.
• Iran’s Supreme Leader reacted negatively to the open letter signed by Republican senators citing concern that President Barack Obama will not be able to generate congressional support for a nuclear deal with Iran.
• Al Murabitoun, an al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb splinter group, conducted an attack in Bamako, Mali, that killed five people, including two Westerners. The attacl is the farthest south the group has operated.