The strike on Damascus was the first since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria. Reuters
The strike on Damascus was the first since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria. Reuters
The strike on Damascus was the first since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria. Reuters
The strike on Damascus was the first since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria. Reuters

Five killed in Israeli air strikes on Damascus, Syria says


Khaled Yacoub Oweis
  • English
  • Arabic

Israeli forces fired missiles on Sunday at a central area of Damascus where major security compounds are located, pro-government media said, in a rare attack deep within the capital.

Air raids and other attacks by Israel has increased on Syria in the past few years to curb increased Iranian presence, and what it says is the smuggling of long-range rockets and missiles into Syria.

At least five people were killed in the attack on the upmarket, tightly guarded Kfar Souseh neighbourhood, as well as other areas on the edge of the city, state TV said.

It quoted a military official as saying that shortly after midnight on Sunday Israeli missiles struck several targets in Damascus and its surrundings, including "residential neighbourhoods inhabited by civilians".

He said an initial tally showed one soldier among the five deaths, and 15 civilians wounded.

But a pro-regime Facebook page said two of the dead were members of the military, naming them as Colonel Amjad Ali, and Aksam Isper, a lower ranking soldier.

Israel has struck Damascus dozens of times in the past decade as Iranian reach deepened in Syria, mainly through Hezbollah and other Shiite militias, which are supported by Iran and fighting on behalf of President Bashar Al Assad in the civil war.

Tehran, according to Israel, also oversees the transport of weapons from Iran to its proxies in Syria, through Iraq.

  • A satellite image shows damage at Aleppo airport in northern Syria following reported Israeli strikes on September 6. AFP
    A satellite image shows damage at Aleppo airport in northern Syria following reported Israeli strikes on September 6. AFP
  • More damage at Aleppo airport after Israeli strikes on August 31.
    More damage at Aleppo airport after Israeli strikes on August 31.
  • A building damaged by a reported Israeli air strike in the western Syrian coastal city of Tartus. AFP
    A building damaged by a reported Israeli air strike in the western Syrian coastal city of Tartus. AFP
  • The damaged runway of the Damascus International Airport, when it was hit by an Israeli air strike on June 10. AP
    The damaged runway of the Damascus International Airport, when it was hit by an Israeli air strike on June 10. AP
  • Syria said the June 10 strike caused "significant" damage to infrastructure and knocked out the main runway. AP
    Syria said the June 10 strike caused "significant" damage to infrastructure and knocked out the main runway. AP
  • Damage reported by the Syrian state media in Damascus in March. Reuters
    Damage reported by the Syrian state media in Damascus in March. Reuters
  • Fire burns after a reported Israeli missile attack on a container storage area in the port of Latakia in December 2021. Reuters
    Fire burns after a reported Israeli missile attack on a container storage area in the port of Latakia in December 2021. Reuters
  • Firefighters called in to tackle the Latakia blaze. Reuters
    Firefighters called in to tackle the Latakia blaze. Reuters
  • An Israeli pilot in an F-35 fighter jet at Nevatim air base. Reuters
    An Israeli pilot in an F-35 fighter jet at Nevatim air base. Reuters
  • An Israeli Air Force F-35 fighter jet performs an aerial demonstration at the Hatzerim air base. Reuters
    An Israeli Air Force F-35 fighter jet performs an aerial demonstration at the Hatzerim air base. Reuters
  • An Israeli F-15 fighter jet at the Blue Flag 2017 exercise at Israel's Ovda military air base. Reuters
    An Israeli F-15 fighter jet at the Blue Flag 2017 exercise at Israel's Ovda military air base. Reuters
  • Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike targeting Syrian capital Damascus in July 2020. AFP
    Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike targeting Syrian capital Damascus in July 2020. AFP

The attack on Kfar Souseh, however, was rare in that it was so near Umayyad Square, the main intersection in the centre of the city. It was also in Kfar Souseh that one of the most senior Hezbollah operatives, Imad Mughniyeh, was assassinated through use of a car bomb in 2008.

Members of the Syrian opposition to the regime said the strike signalled the possibility that a key operative was targeted.

They pointed out that important security compounds, such as the National Security Bureau and intelligence branches are located in Kfar Souseh. The area also has residences for security commanders, some of whom are non-Syrian and linked to Iran, they said.

Although Kfar Souseh is among the most expensive areas of Damascus, many of its security complexes are located next to residential buildings.

A Facebook page for President Bashar Al Assad's loyalists showed a building in Kfar Souseh that was claimed to be the target. It had a white stone facade and appeared damaged.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the attack, the first first since a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6 hit Turkey and damaged parts of Syria.

Possible targets

The pro-Hezbollah Al Mayadeen Television in Lebanon quoted a representative of Islamic Jihad, one of the most pro-Iranian Palestinian militant groups present in Damascus, as denying rumours that Akram Al Ajouri, one of its commanders, was the target of the Israeli raid.

The last known attack on Damascus, on January 2, temporarily put the city's airport out of service and reportedly killed two Syrian soldiers.

Wael Alwan, director of information at the Syrian research centre Jusoor, said Sunday's strike on Kfar Souseh could be part of Israeli attempts to disrupt the flow of weapons from Iran to Syria, which may have picked up after the earthquake under the guise of aid for victims in regime areas.

He said the attack might have aimed to disrupt the command and control of smuggling efforts.

"The attack this morning was one of the largest Israeli strikes. Targeting Kfar Souseh means they were after someone important," he said from Istanbul.

He said that in relative terms Kfar Souseh is "densely populated" with security elements under civilian guise, whether Syrian intelligence, Hezbollah or members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the main Iranian organisation in charge of relations with Tehran's militia proxies.

Mr Alwan said there was speculation that the Israelis may have been aiming for an Iraqi commander linked to the IRGC.

"If he was, it appears that they missed him," he said.

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

The National selections

Al Ain

5pm: Bolereau
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6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura​​​​​​​
7pm: AF Arrab​​​​​​​
7.30pm: Al Jazi​​​​​​​
8pm: Futoon

Jebel Ali

1.45pm: AF Kal Noor​​​​​​​
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Marathon results

Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01  

About Takalam

Date started: early 2020

Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech and wellness

Number of staff: 4

Funding to date: Bootstrapped

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

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THE SPECS

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Torque: 240Nm

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

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Updated: February 19, 2023, 3:24 PM