A series of Israeli strikes hit Iranian targets in Syria on Sunday, near the ancestral home region of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.
The strikes hit targets close to Russia's main Syrian bases on the Mediterranean coast, Reuters reported.
Three personnel were killed and three wounded in two Israeli attacks south of Tartus province and one on Damascus, the Syrian Army said.
Two Syrian military defectors told Reuters the strikes on the north-eastern outskirts of Damascus hit outposts of Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hezbollah group.
A Syrian Army officer in the Tartus coastal region said an Iranian base near the village of Abu Afsa, south of the port city, was targeted, as was a nearby air defence and radar station.
Israel has launched hundreds of strikes against alleged Iranian targets in recent years, but has mostly avoided hitting the coastal provinces where Russia's main military assets are concentrated.
The strikes come as a low-intensity conflict escalates, with the goal of slowing down Iran's growing entrenchment in Syria, according to Israeli and regional military experts.
The strikes were close to the Russian Navy's only Mediterranean base in the port of Tartus, where Russian warships are docked, while Moscow's major Hmeimim airbase is in nearby Latakia province.
Russian intervention turning the tide
Russia's intervention alongside support from Iran helped to turn the tide in favour of Mr Assad in a conflict that has lasted more than a decade.
The coastal areas are inhabited mainly by Mr Assad's minority Alawite sect, which dominates the higher echelons of power in the security force and army.
Russian forces in Syria regularly turn a blind eye to Israeli air strikes against suspected Iranian-sponsored deployments and arms transfers.
But tensions have mounted between Israel and Russia over Israel's condemnation of the Ukraine war and Moscow's scrutiny of a Jewish emigration agency.
Israel last month said its military jets came under Russian anti-aircraft fire over Syria in May but they missed their target. It described the confrontation as a “one-off incident”.
Syria blamed Israel for major strikes on Damascus International Airport in June that heavily damaged runways and forced a halt to flights for several weeks.
Israeli defence officials say the civilian airport has been used regularly by Iran to transport weapons and militias.
US base struck
Also on Monday, drones hit a compound run by American troops and US-backed Syrian opposition fighters in eastern Syria the US military said. There were no casualties or damage.
The military said the attack took place in the vicinity of Al Tanf base, close to where the borders of Syria, Jordan and Iraq meet. There was no claim of responsibility for the attack.
US and coalition troops are based at Al Tanf to train Syrian forces on patrols to counter militants from the ISIS group. The base is on a road serving as a vital link for Iran-backed forces, stretching from Tehran all the way to Lebanon.
The military statement said coalition troops in co-ordination with opposition fighters — known as Maghaweir Al Thowra — “responded to an attack by multiple unmanned aerial systems in the vicinity of Al Tanf garrison” on Monday morning.
It said the troops successfully engaged one of the drones preventing its from attacking, while a second one detonated within the opposition forces’ compound, “resulting in zero casualties or reported damage”. The other attempted drone strikes were not successful, it added.
Maj Gen John Brennan, the commander of Combined Joint Task Force, condemned the drone strike. “Such attacks put the lives of innocent Syrian civilians at risk and undermine the significant efforts by our partner forces to maintain the lasting defeat of ISIS,” he said.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
Draw
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)
Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon
Ready Player One
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The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
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Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
