Israeli soldiers on the Golan Heights yesterday. The attack on the Golan showed Tehran’s ability ‘to play strong cards’ AFP
Israeli soldiers on the Golan Heights yesterday. The attack on the Golan showed Tehran’s ability ‘to play strong cards’ AFP
Israeli soldiers on the Golan Heights yesterday. The attack on the Golan showed Tehran’s ability ‘to play strong cards’ AFP
Israeli soldiers on the Golan Heights yesterday. The attack on the Golan showed Tehran’s ability ‘to play strong cards’ AFP

Iran flexes proxy muscle in escalation involving Israel


Khaled Yacoub Oweis
  • English
  • Arabic

Tehran further flexed its regional muscle in response to the confrontation with the United States by apparently picking out Israeli targets yesterday, demonstrating the efficacy of relying on proxies to shield Iran from retaliation, as Washington renewed its offer to talk.

Two rockets fired from Syria at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights were met almost immediately by Israeli raids on Syrian territory that is officially under the control of President Bashar Al Assad.

It was the first such development involving Israel since the US strengthened its military presence in the Gulf region last month in response to what Washington regards as Iranian threats to security.

The Golan is a strategic plateau bordering Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. Israel occupied the area in 1967 and Washington this year recognised it as Israeli territory in a move that drew widespread condemnation and was seen as playing into the hands of Mr Al Assad.

A reported deal in July last year between Washington, Moscow and Israel was designed to keep Iran away from Syria’s Quneitra and Daraa governorates, which border the Golan. But the rockets fired on the Golan were a reminder that Iran has been the biggest winner in the Syrian civil war, with the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah its main instrument there.

Although Iranian troops are reported to have been killed in Israeli strikes on Syria, militia proxies or Mr Al Assad’s forces had borne the brunt of Israeli operations. The Syrian regime announced that three of its troops were killed in yesterday’s strikes. Israel had said Mr Al Assad’s military would be held responsible for any attacks coming from Syria, an arrangement that appears to suit Tehran and Israel, because both sides would rather avoid open warfare and Tehran appears not to be too concerned about casualties among Mr Al Assad’s loyalists.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in Switzerland on Sunday that Washington was continuing its efforts to “reverse the malign activity” of Iran but was ready to talk with Tehran without conditions.

Iran rebuffed previous US comments about talks after Washington scrapped the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018.

A tightening of US sanctions on Iran last month was followed by sabotage attacks against oil tankers off the UAE coast and drone strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on an oil pipeline and pumping stations in Saudi Arabia.

In Iraq, a rocket fired from a Baghdad district controlled by Iran-backed Iraqi paramilitary forces struck close to the US embassy.

In Syria, Tehran has not shied away from using militia proxies, despite regular Israeli raids on Iran-associated forces in Syria and Israeli co-ordination with Russia to try to curb Iran’s reach.

A battery of Israel's Iron Dome defence system pictured in Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights. AFP
A battery of Israel's Iron Dome defence system pictured in Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights. AFP

Nizar Abdel Kader, a veteran Lebanese military analyst, said the Iranian militia investment in Syria was paying off, with the Syrian regime having no choice but to take casualties on behalf of Iran.

The attack on the Golan was a reminder of Iran’s position if any dialogue with the US takes place as it showed Tehran’s ability “to play strong cards”.

"After the attacks in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, this is another message the Iranians are sending," Mr Abdel Kader, a retired brigadier general, told The National from Beirut.

"Tehran is saying, ‘We are capable of wreaking havoc with the security and stability of the whole region’.

“It is typical of the anonymous way they operate. Nobody can prove that the official regime of the Islamic republic is behind these attacks.”

Arrangements between Israel, Russia and Washington forced western and Gulf-backed Syrian opposition forces to hand over southern Syria to the regime in July last year. However, Hezbollah soon moved in.

A confidential report seen by The National and on which western and Arab governments were briefed showed that up to mid-April Iran had formed at least 36 local militias in southern Syria with a strength of more than 2,000 fighters.

The recruitment focus has been the so-called “settlement areas”, regions that the regime captured since July last year, with Hezbollah leading the effort in co-operation with Mr Al Assad’s air force intelligence – considered the most effective and the most widely feared Damascus security arm. It has especially focused on areas directly bordering the Golan in Quneitra province. Militia commanders are believed to receive a $1,500 (Dh5,508) salary while regular members receive about $250.

Since last year, Hezbollah sought to mix its outright Syrian recruitment effort with softer tactics, such as charity work, the report said. This came amid low-intensity clashes in southern Syria between pro-Assad forces and elements of the local population.

Many in the area are opposed to the group’s infiltration and proselytisation efforts by Iran, supported by cash, to get new Shiite converts. Dozens of Hezbollah collaborators and former rebel commanders opposed to Hezbollah have been killed.

Gully Boy

Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi​​​​​​​
Rating: 4/5 stars

Rafael Nadal's record at the MWTC

2009 Finalist

2010 Champion

Jan 2011 Champion

Dec 2011 Semi-finalist

Dec 2012 Did not play

Dec 2013 Semi-finalist

2015 Semi-finalist

Jan 2016 Champion

Dec 2016 Champion

2017 Did not play

 

GCC-UK%20Growth
%3Cp%3EAn%20FTA%20with%20the%20GCC%20would%20be%20very%20significant%20for%20the%20UK.%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20My%20Department%20has%20forecast%20that%20it%20could%20generate%20an%20additional%20%C2%A31.6%20billion%20a%20year%20for%20our%20economy.%3Cbr%3EWith%20consumer%20demand%20across%20the%20GCC%20predicted%20to%20increase%20to%20%C2%A3800%20billion%20by%202035%20this%20deal%20could%20act%20as%20a%20launchpad%20from%20which%20our%20firms%20can%20boost%20their%20market%20share.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.
Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up

Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm

On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm

The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm

The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm

Romang, June 28 at 6pm

Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm

Underdog, June 29 at 2pm

Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm

A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm 

 

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Company%20profile
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RESULTS

6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)

6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill

7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill

8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Ponti

Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan

Ovo's tips to find extra heat
  • Open your curtains when it’s sunny 
  • Keep your oven open after cooking  
  • Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy 
  • Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat 
  • Put on extra layers  
  • Do a few star jumps  
  • Avoid alcohol   
ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E5pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(Turf)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E5.30pm%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Rub%20Al%20Khali%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E6pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAl%20Marmoom%20Desert%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E6.30pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELiwa%20Oasis%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAl%20Khatim%20Desert%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7.30pm%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Al%20Quadra%20Desert%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is graphene?

Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.

It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.

It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.

It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.

Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.

The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.

Profile Box

Company/date started: 2015

Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif

Based: Manama, Bahrain

Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation

Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads

Stage: 1 ($100,000)

Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)

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 
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Blah

Started: 2018

Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and talent management

Initial investment: Dh20,000

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 40