Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Syrian Civil Defence teams worked through the night on Monday to clear the wreckage of the Iranian ambassador's residence in Damascus, after an Israeli attack that killed at least 11 people, including two senior commanders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Parts of the central Mezzeh district were cordoned off on Tuesday morning as excavators went to work and search and rescue teams tried to recover the dead.
“We have been pulling out bodies … because it’s a five-storey building that was demolished,” Jaafar, who works for the Syrian Civil Defence, told The National.
“The sheer force of the strike rocked the neighbourhood and impacted the residential buildings behind the ambassador's residence. There are casualties and martyrs.”
Iran confirmed the death of seven members of the IRGC, including Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the commander of the Quds Force in Lebanon, and another commander, Brig Gen Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 11 people were killed.
The ambassador's residence, which is also used as a consulate and is adjacent to the main Iranian embassy building, is in a diplomatic area. An Israeli attack in the Mezzeh neighbourhood in January killed several IRGC military advisers and Syrian soldiers.
“Look what Israel is doing in Gaza, in Lebanon and here in Syria. Every day, it is attacking everybody. They are killing people all around our region, attacking us in broad daylight," a Syrian firefighter said.
“It is a dangerous and brazen targeting in the heart of Damascus,” a rescue official told The National.
Challenge to Iran
The strike is the most significant attack against an Iranian target since the Gaza war began and risks pulling Iran into a direct confrontation with Israel.
It also raises fears of escalation on other fronts against Israel, including from Iran-backed groups in Yemen and Lebanon.
The Israeli government did not respond to requests for comment on the attack in Damascus.
Hossein Akbari, the Iranian ambassador, claimed F-35 fighters with six missiles had attacked the compound - he did not provide a source of the information, nor evidence - when he addressed reporters outside the embassy.
Israel has repeatedly bombed Iranian and Syrian personnel and property within Syria. But the strikes have escalated since the start of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas on October 7 and the cross-border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
On Friday, dozens of Syrian soldiers and Hezbollah members were killed in Israeli air strikes on north-western Aleppo province, one of the biggest attacks against Syria and the Iranian-backed group since the beginning of Israel's war in Gaza.
Residents of the Mezzeh area were returning home from work, with some stuck in traffic jams on the motorway before the explosions in the area.
Mohanad Al Shalah said he was on the way home when a loud explosion deafened him.
“I was driving home on the motorway and suddenly the windows in the car vibrated, my ears hurt, I looked and I saw the smoke rising from near the consulate,” he said.
“This is an embassy, so no one ever expected such a strike would occur. People were still trapped out of the rubble; the building [site] looked like a war zone.”
Rama, who lives behind the ambassador's residence, said her balcony was covered in shattered glass and debris from the strike. “My children were in the house with me as the strike ripped through the area," she siad. "My furniture is all broken, the house Is a mess. It is a bomb site now.”
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESupy%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDani%20El-Zein%2C%20Yazeed%20bin%20Busayyis%2C%20Ibrahim%20Bou%20Ncoula%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFood%20and%20beverage%2C%20tech%2C%20hospitality%20software%2C%20Saas%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%20for%20six%20months%3B%20pre-seed%20round%20of%20%241.5%20million%3B%20seed%20round%20of%20%248%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBeco%20Capital%2C%20Cotu%20Ventures%2C%20Valia%20Ventures%20and%20Global%20Ventures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
Afro%20salons
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFor%20women%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESisu%20Hair%20Salon%2C%20Jumeirah%201%2C%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EBoho%20Salon%2C%20Al%20Barsha%20South%2C%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EMoonlight%2C%20Al%20Falah%20Street%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFor%20men%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMK%20Barbershop%2C%20Dar%20Al%20Wasl%20Mall%2C%20Dubai%3Cbr%3ERegency%20Saloon%2C%20Al%20Zahiyah%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EUptown%20Barbershop%2C%20Al%20Nasseriya%2C%20Sharjah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
Francesco Totti's bio
Born September 27, 1976
Position Attacking midifelder
Clubs played for (1) - Roma
Total seasons 24
First season 1992/93
Last season 2016/17
Appearances 786
Goals 307
Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2
EXPATS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lulu%20Wang%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicole%20Kidman%2C%20Sarayu%20Blue%2C%20Ji-young%20Yoo%2C%20Brian%20Tee%2C%20Jack%20Huston%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
