Syrian Democratic Forces fighters in Raqqa, Syria. Photo: Reuters
Syrian Democratic Forces fighters in Raqqa, Syria. Photo: Reuters
Syrian Democratic Forces fighters in Raqqa, Syria. Photo: Reuters
Syrian Democratic Forces fighters in Raqqa, Syria. Photo: Reuters

US-backed Syrian forces stop ‘massive’ ISIS car bomb


Robert Tollast
  • English
  • Arabic

US-led local fighters in eastern Syria killed two members of an ISIS terrorist cell north of Raqqa during an operation to foil a car bombing, a spokesman for the force said.

The Syrian Democratic Forces is a coalition formed to fight the terrorist group’s short-lived takeover of much of northern Iraq and eastern Syria, between June 2014 and March 2019.

Syrian Kurdish fighters from the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, teamed up with Syrian anti-government rebels and Arab tribes in 2016 to form the SDF, which was then backed by US airpower and Special Forces.

Heavy fighting in Raqqa, the last major city to be held by ISIS, ended in October 2017, after the capture of Mosul in Iraq in July that year by internationally backed Iraqi government forces.

Despite the near-total defeat of ISIS, sporadic attacks still occur and the group has a presence in remote areas.

Biden pledge

The US has about 900 military personnel stationed in outposts with the SDF in eastern Syria.

This is despite President Joe Biden’s remarks at the UN General Assembly that the US was no longer engaged in foreign conflicts.

“I stand here today for the first time in 20 years with the United States not at war. We’ve turned the page,” he said on September 22.

On Monday, SDF spokesman Farhad Shami said the anti-ISIS operation foiled a large car bombing. He did not say when the operation occurred.

“Our special units conducted a qualitative security operation against a dangerous Daesh cell north of Raqqa. Based on the intelligence gathered by our competent agencies, we confirmed that the cell was planning to conduct a massive bombing in Raqqa city using a car bomb.”

Mr Shami said that during the operation the ISIS suspects fired on security forces and were subsequently shot by return fire.

Several ISIS terrorists have been killed or captured since the start of August in joint operations by the SDF and US Special Forces.

Six ISIS fighters were captured and two killed at the end of September, said Col Wayne Marotto, the spokesman for the US-led anti-ISIS mission, Operation Inherent Resolve.

The SDF said that in August, ISIS carried out 20 attacks killing 15 civilians in the Euphrates valley area of operations, which includes Raqqa and Deir Ezzor.

But the terrorist group generally attacks the Syrian regime, according to a US government report released on August 3.

The report, from the Inspector General of Operation Inherent Resolve, said ISIS was struggling to cope with harsh desert conditions, and with having lost control of towns and oilfields, a major revenue source.

“ISIS leaders depend on known routes that traverse ungoverned areas of the Syrian desert to connect from Idlib governorate to Iraq’s Anbar desert. ISIS senior leaders use Idlib as a safe haven,” the report said.

It also said Bashar Al Assad’s government still does not have full control of many areas, a decade into Syria's civil war.

“The desert is sparsely populated, with few potential recruits and few economic resources to exploit. ISIS extracts ‘taxes’ from truckers carrying oil through the region, but the revenue is likely far below the amounts ISIS received when it controlled the oil fields,” the quarterly report said.

Hotel Data Cloud profile

Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)

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Director: Stephen Merchant 

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell        

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Profile

Company name: Jaib

Started: January 2018

Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour

Based: Jordan

Sector: FinTech

Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018

Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)

Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)

Friday

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Valencia v Levante (midnight)

Saturday

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Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)

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Sunday

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FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Motori Profile

Date started: March 2020

Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa

Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi

Sector: Insurance Sector

Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Safe City Group

PROFILE OF INVYGO

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Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

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Updated: October 04, 2021, 12:48 PM