Kristian Coates Ulrichsen

Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East's longest-serving rulers who maintained the country's neutrality in regional struggles, died on Jan. 10 and state media said his cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was named his successor.

Qatar restored full diplomatic relations with Iran early Aug. 24, disregarding the demands of Arab nations now locked in a regional dispute with the energy-rich country that it lessen its ties to Tehran.

Qatar restored full diplomatic relations with Iran early Thursday, disregarding the demands of Arab nations now locked in a regional dispute with the energy-rich country that it lessen its ties to Tehran, Daily Sabah reported.

‘The First World War in the Middle East’ by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen (Hurst, $35, 320 pages)