The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition engaged in fighting the Houthi rebels in Yemen killed a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in an air strike in northern Marib province, Yemen's Information Minister Moammar Al Eryani told The National on Tuesday.
Mustafa Al Gharawi was killed in the Serwah region west of Marib on Monday, Mr Al Eryani said.
The Houthis began an assault on Marib in February and are now within a few kilometres of the government-held city, the site of the only oil refinery in the north and a gateway to nearby oilfields.
"Al Gharawi was killed in an air strike launched by coalition aircraft on sites controlled by the Houthi militia in Serwah," Mr Al Eryani said.
The minister, who is part of the internationally recognised Yemeni government, said Iran has been intensively involved in backing the Houthi rebels in the recent escalation in Marib.
"His killing reflects the level of the Iranian involvement in military escalation waged by the Houthi militia on various Marib fronts," Mr Al Eryani said said.
The latest round of talks on a ceasefire in Marib and other hotspots in Yemen have stalled, killing hopes of a breakthrough, after US President Joe Biden's administration made ending the war a priority.
The assault has displaced almost 20,000 people and “threatens the safety of millions”, the UN said.
Iran's involvement in the recent escalation in the Houthis' Marib offensive included deploying hundreds of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officers and Hezbollah experts to lead military operations, smuggle ballistic missiles and operate drones, the minister said.
Yemen's conflict began when the Houthis ousted the country's government from the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
A Saudi Arabia-led military coalition intervened the following year with an air bombing campaign to beat back the rebels.
The war has created what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
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Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include:
- Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
- Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
- Follow Me, Akhi: The Online World of British Muslims by Hussein Kesvani
- Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
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Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
