The United States has largely avoided wading directly into the Syrian conflict or confronting President Bashar Al Assad and his allies throughout the seven-year war.
In the early years of the conflict, which erupted in early 2011, Washington was part of a regional and western coalition that backed and armed vetted opposition groups who were fighting to topple the Assad regime. The limited armaments left the rebel fighters always at a disadvantage, while radical groups found their way to Syria, including militants from ISIS.
As ISIS captured a wide swath of Iraq and Syria in 2014, the US began conducting air strikes against the group and shifted its Syria policy to fighting the militants. The US sent advisers into Syria and backed local allies, who captured territories as ISIS collapsed.
But as the conflict got more complex — Russia launched its air campaign in Syria in September 2015 and Turkey a few days before — the US found itself increasingly caught up in frictions with other regional players, and at times acted against threats or the repeated use of chemical weapons against civilians.
Here's a look at significant times when US forces used air and missile strikes to expand their role in Syria beyond the fight against ISIS:
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April 13, 2018: President Donald Trump announces the United States, France and Britain have launched military strikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Al Assad for a suspected chemical attack against civilians and to deter him from doing it again. Mr Trump says the US is prepared to exert sustained pressure on Mr Assad.
__________
February 7, 2018: The US military launches rare air strikes and artillery rounds against Syrian government-backed troops after as many as 500 attackers started what appeared to be a co-ordinated attack on US-backed Syrian forces and US advisers in eastern Deir Ezzor province. US officials said the strikes were in self-defence after pro-government forces began firing artillery and tank rounds at the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. About 100 of the attackers were killed, the official said. Russian officials said a number of Russian contractors were killed in the US strike.
__________
June 18, 2017: US warplanes down a Syrian air force jet, the first such incident. The downing of the Syrian SU-22 came after it bombed US-allied forces fighting ISIS militants west of Raqqa city. A number of US-allied fighters were injured. US officials said they acted to defend allies attacked by the Syrian government as both rival forces raced toward Raqqa city, at the time the de facto capital of the ISIS militants.
__________
June 8, 2017: US officials say US jets downed an armed Iranian-supported drone that had fired on US troops in southern Syria near a base where the international coalition against ISIS militants is training Syrian rebel forces. The weapon fired by the drone didn't detonate. US officials called the drone a direct threat to the coalition, and it came hours after an earlier attack by pro-government forces in the same area against the US-backed forces in the camp.
__________
June 6, 2017: US air strikes strike pro-Syrian government forces who approached a camp in southern Syria where US-backed Syrian forces and US advisers were training as part of the anti-ISIS effort. It was the second such confrontation between US forces and pro-Syrian government forces in less than three weeks. US.officials described the forces as Iranian-backed and said they had approached and attacked the base where US-backed forces were training near the border with Jordan. US officials said air strikes destroyed two artillery pieces and an anti-aircraft weapon and damaged a tank in the attack.
__________
May 18, 2017: A US air strike hits pro-Syrian government forces that the coalition said posed a threat to American troops and allied rebels operating near the border with Jordan in southern Syria. It was the first such close confrontation between US forces and fighters backing Mr Assad. US officials said the American air strike hit pro-Syrian government forces as they were setting up fighting positions in a protected area near Tanf and the border with Jordan. They said a tank and a bulldozer were also hit.
__________
April 6, 2017: In retaliation for a government chemical weapons attack in northern Syria that killed nearly 90 people, including 31 children, the US fires 59 Tomahawk missiles overnight at the government-controlled Shayrat airbase in central Syria. US officials said the Syrian military planes that dropped the chemicals had taken off from there, and claimed all but one of the missiles struck their targets, hitting multiple aircraft and air shelters, and destroying the fuel area.
__________
September 17, 2016: A mistaken coalition air assault reportedly killed more than 90 Syrian government troops in Deir Ezzor. The US military said it was human error and an honest mistake, as it was targeting what were believed to be ISIS positions.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Match info
Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace
Man of the match: Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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
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TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Company%C2%A0profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA