US to send thousands more troops to Middle East

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The US military is sending several thousand additional troops to the Middle East as it seeks to stop the current Israel-Hezbollah conflict from expanding into a broader regional war, the Pentagon said on Monday.

The deployment will comprise “a few thousand” extra troops who primarily will be supporting additional air assets that are being sent to the region, including F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16s, A-10s and F-22 fighter jets, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters.

The Department of Defence has “taken steps to further enhance the defence posture of US forces in the Middle East region to deter aggression and reduce the risk of a broader regional war,” Ms Singh said. “They are there for the protection of US forces. And they are there should they be needed for the defence of Israel.”

The jets were originally intended to rotate in and replace the squadrons already there. Instead, both the existing and new squadrons will remain in place to double the air power on hand. CBS News on Monday cited a US official as saying Israel has told the US it plans to launch a limited ground incursion into southern Lebanon, potentially within hours. Ms Singh did not comment on the report.

President Joe Biden meanwhile said he was “more aware than you might know” about Israel launching a limited operation into Lebanon. Mr Biden said he was “comfortable with them stopping” in response to a question about whether he was aware of or comfortable with that situation. “We should have a ceasefire now,” he added.

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

Manchester United v Liverpool

Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)

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US to send thousands more troops to Middle East

Deployment will beef up air defence capabilities in the region as Israel reportedly nears launch of incursion into southern Lebanon

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

Manchester United v Liverpool

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Company%20profile