DAMASCUS // Syrian and Iranian officials criticised the Obama administration on Thursday for excluding them from a coalition to fight ISIL.
The strongest reaction, however, came from Russia, Bashar Al Assad’s main ally. The Russian foreign ministry said airstrikes without a UN Security Council resolution “would be an act of aggression and flagrant violation of international law”.
Syria’s main Western-backed opposition group, meanwhile, welcomed Mr Obama’s first-ever authorisation of US airstrikes in Syria, saying it stands “ready and willing” to partner with the international community to defeat the militants.
But the Syrian National Coalition said that airstrikes need to be coupled with a strategy for ultimately toppling Mr Al Assad, the president.
Kurdish politicians in Iraq similarly praised Mr Obama’s announcement of wider airstrikes and assistance to Iraqi forces.
“We welcome this new strategy,” said Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurdish politician and one of Iraq’s newly appointed deputy prime ministers. “We think it will work with the cooperation of the indigenous local forces like Iraqi Security Forces, the Kurdish peshmerga and other forces.”
“There is an urgent need for action. People cannot sit on the fence. This is a mortal threat to everybody.”
The US began launching limited airstrikes against ISIL targets in Iraq last month at the request of former Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al Maliki. The American firepower provided a significant boost to Iraqi forces, including the Kurdish peshmerga fighters, battling to win back land lost to the militant group.
ISIL seized roughly a third of Iraq and Syria in their rampage this summer, where they apply their strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Mr Obama said on Wednesday he was authorising US airstrikes inside Syria for the first time, along with expanded strikes in Iraq as part of “a steady, relentless effort” to root out the Sunni extremists.
The Syrian Minister for Reconciliation, Ali Haider, said on Thursday that “any action without the approval of the Syrian government is an aggression on Syria”.
In Tehran, foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the coalition has “serious ambiguities”.
She said Iran had doubts about the seriousness of the coalition, accusing some members of supporting terrorism in Iraq and Syria.
The new UN envoy to Syria, meanwhile, said “the top priority now is to fight terrorism.” Speaking on his first visit to Damascus following a meeting with Mr Al Assad on Thursday, Staffan de Mistura said he will strive “with a renewed energy” to move toward a political settlement to the Syrian conflict.
Mr Al Assad was quoted by the state-run news agency as saying that recent events in Syria and the region have made fighting terrorism a priority.
Mr de Mistura, a Swedish-Italian diplomat, is stepping into a mission that has frustrated two high-profile predecessors: finding a resolution to a conflict that has killed more than 190,000 people and has driven a third of Syria’s population – some 9 million people – from their homes.
Hadi Bahra, chief of the Syrian National Coalition opposition group, said mainstream rebels desperately need military support to fight the extremists.
“Today, we are one step closer to achieving that goal,” he said.
He said the Syrian Coalition “stands ready and willing to partner with the international community”, not only to defeat the extremists, but also “to rid the Syrian people of the tyranny of the Assad regime”.
* Associated Press
SECRET%20INVASION
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
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Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
SQUADS
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Christopher%20McQuarrie%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tom%20Cruise%2C%20Hayley%20Atwell%2C%20Pom%20Klementieff%2C%20Simon%20Pegg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
The%20Roundup
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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 profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
How Sputnik V works
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
MATCH INFO
Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)
Charles 57, Amla 47
Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)
Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9
Bangla Tiger win by five wickets