Middle East/North Africa

Yemen’s president has apologized to President Obama over the storming of the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, The Associated Press reports.

President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi also ordered an investigation into the riot, which caused no deaths among U.S. personnel. Rioters swarmed into the compound, tore down the American flag and replaced it with a banner that declared “There is no God but Allah.” In addition, rioters removed signs from the compound, set tires ablaze and pelted the crowd with rocks, according to the AP.

Yemeni security forces that rushed to the scene fired into the air and used tear gas to push the rioters out of the compound and disperse the crowd.

The secretary of State called the controversial video "disgusting and reprehensible;" says there is no justification for attacks on Americans.

Tehran would likely respond with both direct and surrogate asymmetrical attacks, escalating the conflict into an all-out regional war.

Your morning global affairs speed-read

Now Yemen? Protesters encircled the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa and climbed the gate on Thursday. [Wall Street Journal]

The New York Times has the inside story on Romney's decision to go on the attack.

And Foreign Policy gets the scoop on the Cairo embassy statement that set Romney off.

Urging caution on Iran: More than 30 admirals, generals, former diplomats and bipartisan government officials have come together on a report, due out at 9 a.m. today, that weighs the costs and benefits of U.S. military action in Iran and recommends it only as a last resort.

Rogers said he had seen no evidence that attacks in Egypt and Libya were coordinated. 

Sen. John McCain on Thursday criticized President Obama for a “feckless foreign policy” in the Middle East.

Obama said the U.S. and Libya must work together to find those behind the attack on the U.S. consulate.

President Obama and Mitt Romney traded barbs in the wake of violence in Libya. 

Two U.S. Navy destroyers are steaming their way toward the Libyan coast in the latest move by the White House and Pentagon to bolster American security forces in the country. 

He compared it to a judge telling a rape victim "you asked for it because of the way you dressed."