Iran has ramped up weapons transfers, via sea and air, to the government of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, according to US Admiral Craig Faller.
Co-operation between the staunchly anti-American regimes is not unusual, but Adm Faller, who spoke to The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, said arms transfers could be part of a plan to threaten US interests across South America.
“We’re real concerned about what Iran is up to, not just globally, but here in this hemisphere,” Adm Faller said.
Iran has said it will retaliate not only for last Friday’s assassination of Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh but also for the death of high-ranking general Qassem Suleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad on January 3.
Any attack in response to these killings may not necessarily occur in the Middle East.
One of two Iranian airlines alleged to be supplying Mr Maduro with arms is Mahan Air. The US imposed sanctions on the civilian airline in October 2011, after Washington accused it of working on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to supply the forces of President Bashar Al Assad in Syria.
In October, an aircraft belonging to Qeshm Fars Air, also under US sanctions, landed in Caracas, showed the flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
New capabilities
Financial challenges facing Caracas and Tehran, which have worsened in 2020, could explain one area of reported co-operation – drones.
Conflicts such as the recent Nagorno-Karabakh war have shown that relatively inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be devastating in a conventional conflict. No military power has yet developed proven countermeasures.
"Iranian arms transfers to Venezuela, especially UAV technology, would be a grave concern for the US and regional stability," said Ryan Berg, a research fellow at The American Enterprise Institute and specialist on security in Latin America.
"In the wake of another prominent assassination of someone linked to Iran's nuclear program, it is important to note that Iran has strategically penetrated several areas of South America, making retaliation for such a strike possible," he said.
"Through proxy groups like Hezbollah, the Iranians have struck in South America before, most devastatingly in Buenos Aires in 1992 and again in 1994," added Mr Berg, referring to devastating terrorist attacks targeting the Israeli embassy and a Jewish community group, killing over 100 people.
Drones would be particularly attractive to Venezuela, which has spent billions on more conventional Russian weapons such as the S-400 anti-missile system, equipment thought by some to be inoperable due to a lack of funds. But this has not stopped Mr Maduro from deploying his forces in the Caribbean, sending anti-aircraft missiles to the island of Orchila in May.
Mr Maduro also announced that his country was developing its own drones, technology on which Iran and Venezuela have been co-operating since 2012.
During a televised speech by Mr Maduro, made in an aircraft hangar on November 20, analysts noted what appeared to be a model of an Iranian Mohajer-6 unmanned combat aerial vehicle.
This suggests Tehran is serious about helping Venezuela to develop more nimble capabilities to complement its underfunded conventional military.
Caribbean attack?
Iran claims one of its recent drones, the Kian, has a 965-kilometre range, which means that Tehran could – if the IRGC desire, harass US interests or those of its allies across much of the Caribbean, as Iran has targeted US interests, including the oil infrastructure of allies, across the Gulf.
If Iran decides to strike US interests in the Caribbean, the IRGC could claim innocence, particularly if forces loyal to Mr Maduro have the equipment to conduct the attack.
Tehran has used similar tactics in Iraq and Yemen. After missiles struck oil processing infrastructure at Abqaiq in Saudi Arabia in September 2019 – one of the largest attacks on oil infrastructure in history – Iran denied any role. Houthi militias, backed by Iran, claimed credit, but a UN report in June 2020 concluded the missiles used in the attack were "of Iranian origin".
Militia franchise
In 2010, a partially redacted Pentagon report was released to Congress, stating that the IRGC had established networks “in Latin America, particularly Venezuela”.
Whatever Iran’s intentions – to supply fuel and condensate for Mr Maduro’s ailing regime in exchange for Venezuelan gold, or something more hostile, Tehran’s involvement is quickly reaching an advanced stage.
In September, former chief commander of the IRGC, Maj Gen Yahya Rahim Safavi told the state-run Mehr News Agency that Iranian advisers were creating a “popular force” of militias in Venezuela.
Caracas already has a large force of paramilitaries, akin to Iran’s Basij militia and Iran-backed elements of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces. These groups have taken part in brutal crackdowns on demonstrators.
Even if Tehran’s aims are not openly hostile to US interests in the Caribbean, Iranian assistance to Venezuela will likely strengthen Mr Maduro’s rule.
The arms transfers are "bad news for average Venezuelans, as their government prioritises buying weapons over attending to the country's unfolding humanitarian crisis," said Mr Berg.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
Adam Lewis
Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
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ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The team
Videographer: Jear Velasquez
Photography: Romeo Perez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Models: Meti and Clinton at MMG
Video assistant: Zanong Maget
Social media: Fatima Al Mahmoud
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
Company%20profile
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Concrete and Gold
Foo Fighters
RCA records
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Norway
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Canada
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The five pillars of Islam
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Zombieland: Double Tap
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Four out of five stars
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)