DAMASCUS // Syrian troops backed by Russian warplanes on Thursday advanced into the ancient city of Palmyra, which has been under ISIL control for nearly a year.
“Regime forces have entered the Hayy Al Gharf neighbourhood in the south-west of Palmyra. They are advancing very slowly because of mines planted by IS,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.
“The regime is also advancing from the north of the city.”
A Syrian military source confirmed the advance.
“The army has entered from the north-west after seizing control of part of the Valley of the Tombs,” he said. “The clashes, which are ongoing, are fierce.”
It came after Syrian troops managed this week to capture hills and high ground around the city, famed for its archaeological site and Roman ruins.
Syrian troops have been on the offensive for days in an attempt to recapture the city from ISIL. The extremist group overran Palmyra last May and has since blown up Unesco-listed temples and looted relics that dated back thousands of years.
Earlier in the day, state television broadcast footage of one of its reporters, embedded with the Syrian military, speaking from the entrance of Palmyra.
The reporter said that as of noon, the fighting was concentrated near the archaeological site on the south-western edge of the town.
Gunfire and explosions echoed as the reporter spoke. The television station also aired footage of soldiers walking and SUVs driving near a building that appears to have been a hotel.
An unnamed Syrian soldier told the station he had one message for ISIL: “You will be crushed under the feet of the Syrian Arab Army.”
Meanwhile, ISIL has called on civilians still living in Palmyra to leave, the observatory said.
Only some 15,000 of Palmyra’s 70,000 residents stayed on under ISIL rule, which has seen atrocities including public beheadings in the city’s amphitheatre.
“The vast majority had already fled – only those too poor to flee stayed behind,” said Mr Abdel Rahman.
ISIL has lost more 200 fighters since the government campaign to retake Palmyra began 17 days ago, the observatory added. It did not have figures for government losses.
The city’s recapture would be a strategic as well as symbolic victory for president Bashar Al Assad, since whoever holds it also controls the vast desert extending from central Syria to the Iraqi border. It would also be a victory for Mr Al Assad’s ally, Russia.
Russia withdrew most of its forces and aircraft from Syria last week after a months-long bombing campaign that succeeded in turning the tide of the war again in Mr Al Assad’s favour.
As the fighting continued, Syria’s antiquities chief hailed the “imminent” recapture of Palmyra and vowed to rebuild the famed monuments destroyed by the extremists. “I have feelings of fear and joy,” said Maamoun Abdelkarim. “I am so happy the liberation is imminent and that the nightmare is nearly over, before it is too late, before the total destruction of the ancient city.”
Three months after capturing Palmyra, ISIL beheaded the city’s 82-year-old former antiquities chief, Khaled Al Asaad, and launched a campaign of destruction against its most treasured monuments.
First, they destroyed the ancient shrine of Baal Shamin. In September, they demolished the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel, recognised as a gem of classical architecture.
In October, they blew up the Arch of Triumph, which dates from around 200AD. “I think this 10-month period has been the worst of our lives,” Mr Abdelkarim said.
“How many times have tears welled up in our eyes because we felt powerless to save a civilisation that was threatened
with being erased before our eyes?
“I fear finding even worse destruction than the demolition of the two temples, of the dozen tower tombs and the Arch of Triumph.”
Mr Abdelkarim pledged that all monuments destroyed by ISIL would be restored with expert help.
* Agence France-Presse and Associated Press
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Almouneer
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Founders: Dr Noha Khater and Rania Kadry
Based: Egypt
Number of staff: 120
Investment: Bootstrapped, with support from Insead and Egyptian government, seed round of
$3.6 million led by Global Ventures
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Processor: Apple S9 64-bit, W3 wireless, 2nd-gen Ultra Wideband
Capacity: 64GB
Memory: 1GB
Platform: watchOS 10
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Emergency services: Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, crash detection, fall detection
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GCC-UK Growth
An FTA with the GCC would be very significant for the UK. My Department has forecast that it could generate an additional £1.6 billion a year for our economy.
With consumer demand across the GCC predicted to increase to £800 billion by 2035 this deal could act as a launchpad from which our firms can boost their market share.
Pakistanis at the ILT20
The new UAE league has been boosted this season by the arrival of five Pakistanis, who were not released to play last year.
Shaheen Afridi (Desert Vipers)
Set for at least four matches, having arrived from New Zealand where he captained Pakistan in a series loss.
Shadab Khan (Desert Vipers)
The leg-spin bowling allrounder missed the tour of New Zealand after injuring an ankle when stepping on a ball.
Azam Khan (Desert Vipers)
Powerhouse wicketkeeper played three games for Pakistan on tour in New Zealand. He was the first Pakistani recruited to the ILT20.
Mohammed Amir (Desert Vipers)
Has made himself unavailable for national duty, meaning he will be available for the entire ILT20 campaign.
Imad Wasim (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders)
The left-handed allrounder, 35, retired from international cricket in November and was subsequently recruited by the Knight Riders.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kinetic 7
Started: 2018
Founder: Rick Parish
Based: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Industry: Clean cooking
Funding: $10 million
Investors: Self-funded
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
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Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
The Specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 118hp
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Transmission: Six-speed automatic
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Read more about the coronavirus
EMIRATES'S REVISED A350 DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE
Edinburgh: November 4 (unchanged)
Bahrain: November 15 (from September 15); second daily service from January 1
Kuwait: November 15 (from September 16)
Mumbai: January 1 (from October 27)
Ahmedabad: January 1 (from October 27)
Colombo: January 2 (from January 1)
Muscat: March 1 (from December 1)
Lyon: March 1 (from December 1)
Bologna: March 1 (from December 1)
Source: Emirates
Company profile
Name: WallyGPT
Started: 2014
Founders: Saeid and Sami Hejazi
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Investment raised: $7.1 million
Number of staff: 20
Investment stage: Pre-seed round
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')
Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')
Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)