Supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi movement brandish their weapons as they rally in solidarity with Iran and Lebanon in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on April 17, 2026. The Middle East war has created an "unprecedented shock" for the region's economies with no guarantee of a quick recovery, a senior International Monetary Fund official has told AFP. Five of the Gulf's eight oil- and gas-producing countries face a contraction this year, the IMF said in a regional report published on April 16. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)