The Syrian government has stepped up its offensive to recapture areas of the country's south over the weekend with an aerial offensive involving barrel bombs, missiles and outlawed munitions, forcing as many as 20,000 civilians to flee.
President Bashar Al Assad has vowed to press an offensive against rebel-held areas of southern Syria despite an internationally backed "de-escalation" deal was reached between the US, Russia and Jordan last year.
Government forces dropped napalm – which is banned internationally – and phosphorus, opposition officials claimed.
"For the first time, the regime has dropped 12 barrel bombs since the de-escalation agreement on villages northeastern Daraa. Four were dropped this morning [Saturday] on Busr al-Harir," said Col Saber Sifer, the political representative of a south Syrian FSA group called the Hamza division.
"We remain committed to the de-escalation agreement, but the regime has intensified artillery shells and missile strikes. It has also used napalm on the town of Masaifra against civilians in the countryside of Daraa." The use of napalm against civilians is banned under international law but has taken place on dozens of occasions during the seven-year Syrian civil war.
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Syrian regime drops barrel bombs in Daraa
Thousands of Syrian flee as regime steps up bombardment in the south
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Government forces also attacked Busr Al Harir and Musaifra with phosphorus, according to Bashar Zoubi, a political representative with a rebel umbrella group in southern Syria. The attack caused a number of injuries and forced more people to flee to safer areas in the south, he said.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that 12,500 have fled their neighbourhoods in the past few days. But as fighting intensified, a civil defence operation room in Daraa estimated that 20,000 had left by Saturday morning. Rebels said the numbers were increasing and families are struggling to find shelter and complained of a shortage of tents, flour and milk.
"So far 20,000 people have fled their areas since the attacks started, mostly from the eastern parts of Daraa to areas near the Jordanian borders. And the numbers are increasing by the day," said Mr Zoubi, who is based in Turkey.
“The regime has intensified its offensive while, unfortunately, we have not seen any action by the guarantors. The US has issued warnings, but the Assad regime continued its offensive. We will not give up. We are still looking for an international intervention to end the fighting and to reach a political solution.”
Mr Al Assad's military offensive has caused anxiety in Jordan, one of the guarantors of the de-escalation agreement which has largely held for almost a year. The collapse of the ceasefire agreement signed in July 2017 risks regional instability, could undermine Jordan and may deepen the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Jordan is host to 1.3 million Syrians - 650,000 of whom are registered by the UNHCR. It fears an influx of refugees on its borders.
Some of the areas that citizens fled to are a few kilometres from the Jordanian border.
King Abdullah of Jordan arrived in Washington on Friday and is expected to discuss the situation with US officials.
Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian foreign minister, said in a tweet that Jordan was intensifying its contacts with its partners in the de-escalation deal to safeguard the ceasefire agreement.
"We are closely monitoring the developments and stress the need to respect the agreement. We are working to prevent the explosion of violence. Our borders and interests are protected," he said.
In a report issued on Thursday, the International Crisis Group warned that in the absence of a negotiated deal, the alternative is a full-scale Syrian military offensive in the south-west that would come at a terrible cost to civilians, to Jordan, to Israel as well as Syria and its Iranian and Russian allies.
However, it said there is still room for a negotiated alternative, but only if all sides recognise the opportunity and seize it.
“There’s still a window for a negotiated alternative, but not for long,” said Sam Heller, senior analyst at International Crisis Group. “The de-escalation deal can be preserved, and built on. But all sides will have to commit to negotiations, especially the Americans.”
A big offensive risks a wider escalation, as the US has warned Damascus it will respond to breaches of a de-escalation brokered by Washington and Russia last year to contain the war in the south-west.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday demanded an immediate end to military escalation in southwestern Syria, saying he was "concerned at the significant risks these offensives pose to regional security," a spokesman for the UN chief said.
Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the United Nations, said on Friday that the Syrian military escalation "unambiguously violates" the de-escalation arrangement and that more than 11,000 people had been displaced.
"Russia will ultimately bear responsibility for any further escalations in Syria," Ms Haley said.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
SPECS
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
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.
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
What is safeguarding?
“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
THREE
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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
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
Results:
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Majd Al Gharbia, Saif Al Balushi, Ridha ben Attia
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed Dh 180,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Money To Burn, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh 70,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Kafu, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 2,400m | Winner: Brass Ring, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Company%C2%A0profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets