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Iraqi Kurdish officials on Tuesday repeated calls for an anti-air defence system after Iran launched missiles at northern Iraq, killing five civilians on Monday night.
Tehran also hit areas of Syria outside the control of President Bashar Al Assad, regional sources said.
“We have asked for a defence system and federal and international support to bring this continuous violation and attacks to an end,” a Kurdish official told The National.
“It will take time,” he said, adding that Erbil welcomed this move and encouraged the instalment of “any system that protects the skies of the Kurdistan region from drones and missiles”.
In December, the US Congress passed a bill that includes equipping the Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi government forces with anti-air defence systems.
The bill, the 2024 National Defence Authorisation Act, is now waiting for President Joe Biden’s signature.
“It won't be easy to get, but we need this urgently,” said the Kurdish official.
The strikes occurred amid rising tensions between the US and Iran's proxy militias in the Middle East over the Israel-Gaza war. The militias have increased attacks against US and Israeli forces from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
The main systems used by the US for this role, the Patriot system and Terminal High Altitude Air Defence, or THAAD, are currently in high demand for US forces and allies.
In July, a senior US commander involved in air defence said capacity was stretched amid a series of global emergencies.
Those include protecting US and South Korean forces from possible North Korean attacks as well as protecting US bases in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the US has donated or sold Patriot systems and their missiles – each interceptor costs around $3 million – to Ukraine and Israel.
Jordan has also requested the US use Patriot air defences to protect the kingdom, amid concerns of regional escalation.
Two children were among those killed in Monday's missile attacks on the Iraq's Kurdish city of Erbil, officials said. Erbil is controlled by the Kurdistan Democratic Party, an Kurdish armed group allied with the US.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which oversees Tehran's proxies abroad, claimed it had hit a base hosting US military personnel and an Israeli Mossad headquarters in Erbil.
It said the attacks in Iraq's Kurdish region, which consists of three provinces, were also aimed at “destroying anti-Iranian terrorist groups” in the area.
Iraqi media reported that the father of the children, aged 11 months and 18 months, was believed to be prominent Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee, who was also killed.
Iraqi Christian businessman Karam Mikhail, owner of food distribution company Rayyan Al Iraq Group, was also killed while visiting Mr Dizayee's home.
Mr Dizayee was a successful real estate developer in the Kurdish region.
An official in Erbil said the attack had mainly damaged his home.
“The Iranians are becoming hysteric. They want to show their people that they can respond to Israel,” the official said.
An official in Baghdad said he could not “understand how Tehran could conduct such a heinous act”.
“He was celebrating with his family in his own residence and it was targeted,” the Iraqi official told The National.
“We can't understand why Iran would target businessmen in the Kurdish region.”
The Iraqi official said Mr Dizayee was “just a businessman” and had “zero affiliation with politics”.
Last month, Israel killed IRGC commander Razi Mousavi in a strike near Damascus, Iranian media reported, as it increased its air raids on Tehran-linked targets in Syria.
Iran is a main backer of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that sparked the war in Gaza with a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people.
Iraq's Foreign Ministry denounced the attack on Erbil as “aggression against the sovereignty of Iraq and the security of the Iraqi people and harming good-neighbourly relations and the security of the region”.
The Iraqi government will file a complaint about the attack to the United Nations Security Council, it added.
Under Iraq's sectarian quotas, the Foreign Minister, Fouad Hussein, is Kurdish.
He is also a veteran KDP member, while the rest of Iraq's government mostly comprises pro-Iranian politicians.
Iraq has also summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in Baghdad to protest against the attacks, the Foreign Ministry said, as it summoned the Iraqi ambassador in Tehran for discussions.
This is a very bold and strong move from Baghdad against Iran, it's important the government stays strong
Baghdad official
“This is a very bold and strong move from Baghdad against Iran, it's important the government stays strong,” said the official in Baghdad.
“The real answer to stopping these attacks is through dialogue.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also claimed responsibility for attacks on Monday in northern Syria said were aimed at ISIS and other militant groups.
KDP leader and former president of the Kurdish region Masoud Barzani said Iran's claims of a Mossad presence in the area were “baseless”.
“My message to the perpetrators of last night’s missile and drone attack: There is no pride in murdering civilians, you can kill us, but rest assured that the will of the people of Kurdistan shall remain unwavering,” he said.
Opposition sources in Syria said several Fateh 110 missiles were fired from Latakia, a coastal region controlled by the Fourth Division, a Syrian army unit under the command of Mr Al Assad's brother Maher.
The missiles hit an abandoned clinic in western Idlib and desert areas near the city of Palmyra. No casualties were reported.
The sources said the clinic had previously served as a base for the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, an Uighur group formerly allied with al Qaeda, but which now has tense relations with al Qaeda offshoot Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, which has been classified as a terrorist group by the US.
Tehran said the targets were ISIS operatives, in response to recent terror attacks, including bombings near the tomb of Gen Qassem Suleimani, commander of the IRGC's Quds Force.
“[ISIS] was targeted in headquarters of militant groups in Idlib in Syria in response to the group’s recent terrorist attacks in Iran,” Iranian news agencies said, quoting the IRGC.
On Tuesday morning, local media reported that civil defence teams in Erbil were still working to rescue a woman from under the rubble, while “heavy damage” was reported on the road connecting Erbil and the town of Pirmam.
Iran's Irna state news outlet alleged that Mr Dizayee had “close ties” to Mossad. The news outlet provided no evidence for the claim.
No US bases were affected by the missile strikes in Erbil and there were no American casualties, US officials have confirmed.
The claimed attack on the “Mossad headquarters” was retaliation for attacks on IRGC leaders, the Iranian armed forces unit said.
In recent years, Iran has carried out strikes in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, saying the area is used as a staging ground for Iranian separatist groups, as well as agents of its arch enemy, Israel.
Erbil has also been repeatedly struck by Iran-backed militias in recent years, with militants attacking coalition troops based at the international airport.
Flights are not affected by the attacks, authorities said on Tuesday morning.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Tehran respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries but at the same time was using its “legitimate and legal right to deter national security threats”.
“After the enemy miscalculated by targeting the Islamic Republic, Iran retaliated with its high intelligence capability in a precise and targeted operation against the culprits' headquarters,” Mr Kanaani added.
Iran said the strikes in Syria were in retaliation to this month's attack on a police station in Sistan and Baluchestan province in the country's south-east that left 11 personnel killed and seven others wounded.
It was claimed by the hardline militant group Jaish Al Adl, or Army of Justice.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
The five pillars of Islam
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE%20ILT20
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company%C2%A0profile
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock
9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
