The US military's Central Command said on Thursday that it flew a B-52 long-range bomber over the Middle East on a training mission this week, on the same day Washington redesignated Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a terrorist organisation.
The B-52H Stratofortress from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, western England, flew across Europe and into the Centcom area of responsibility on Tuesday for a mission that included aerial refuelling and training opportunities with partner nations, said the US military.
Operations such as these are planned months in advance, but the mission coincided with the administration of US President Donald Trump redesignating the Iran-backed Houthis as a foreign terrorist organisation.
It also comes as the truce in Gaza between Hamas – whom the Houthis back – and Israel is under strain, and as the Houthis continue to target US assets. The rebel group shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone this week.
“We often project power into the region which could cause bad actors to think twice,” a US official told The National.
Centcom did not say which partner nations were involved in Tuesday's mission, but released photographs showing Israeli fighters accompanying the bomber.
Last month, B-52s arrived in Europe as part of a routine Bomber Task Force Europe deployment.
The Stratofortress has a range of 14,000km and can reach altitudes of 15,200m. The bomber, which dates from the 1950s, has become a symbol of US military power. It has been significantly upgraded during its 70 years of service.
Mr Trump first designated the Houthis as a terrorist organisation at the end of his previous term in 2021. This was revoked by Joe Biden's administration over concerns it would affect delivery of aid to Yemen.
COMPANY PROFILE
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Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
ENGLAND TEAM
England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
India cancels school-leaving examinations
Bournemouth 0
Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')
