Syrian authorities arrested an alleged senior ISIS commander for planning a foiled attack targeting Sayyeda Zeinab – a prominent Shiite shrine near Damascus – state media reported on Saturday.
Authorities arrested “Abu Al Hareth Al Iraqi, commander in the Daesh organisation”, said state news agency Sana, quoting an unidentified intelligence official and using the Arabic acronym for the group.
He was “behind the planning of a number of operations”, Sana reported, adding that “the cell that was thwarted in its plan to attack the Sayyida Zeinab shrine” was working under his direction.
In January, Syria's Intelligence Directorate foiled an attempt by ISIS to bomb the shrine. It said members of an ISIS cell were arrested before they could carry out an attack on the shrine, Syria's most visited Shiite pilgrimage site.
The Interior Ministry posted pictures of four men it identified as members of the cell who were arrested in the countryside outside the capital.
It published images of equipment allegedly seized from the suspects, including smartphones, two rifles, what appeared to be three explosive devices and several hand grenades.
It was the first time the new authorities in Damascus said they foiled an ISIS attack.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the suspect arrested is an Iraqi national who was “one of the second-tier commanders” in the militant group, spending recent years in the Badia desert.
The shrine used to be under the protection of Iran-backed guards who fled in December after rebels toppled the regime of former president Bashar Al Assad.
Shiite shrines have been frequent targets of attacks by ISIS, both in Syria and neighbouring Iraq. The Sunni extremist group claimed a bombing that killed at least six people near the Sayyeda Zeinab shrine in July 2023.
ISIS seized large areas of Syrian and Iraqi territory in the early years of the civil war, declaring a cross-border “caliphate” in 2014.
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The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
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Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:02
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:04
4 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates
5 Rick Zabel (GER) Israel Start-Up Nation
General Classification
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 07:47:19
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:12
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:16
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Match statistics
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
Harlequins
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Bahrain
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Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
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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