In an overnight strike on Syria, US President Joe Biden delivered a resounding message to Iran and the wider region. Targeting Iranian-backed militias in Syria in a response to an attack in Iraq, Mr Biden made clear that his administration is willing to take military action when needed.
The strikes also made clear that regional dynamics were interlinked; Iran will not be seen in isolation from Iraq and Syria. Much of the 600-kilometre border between the two countries is no barrier to the movements of Iran-backed militias. The strikes in the early hours of Friday morning reminded those militias that their movements are being tracked.
While the features of the Biden administration’s Middle East policy are yet to be fully fleshed out, this first military strike under his tenure is a significant one.
The decision to strike facilities inside Syria, instead of Iraq, was wise
Striking several facilities at a border crossing used by Iran-backed groups, Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid Al Shuhada, active in Iraq and Syria under the directives of Tehran, reminds the militants that they are in the sights of the US military, even if there is a change of incumbent in the White House.
The decision to strike facilities in Syria, instead of Iraq, was wise. It indicates that US policy in Syria will not be limited to counter-ISIS activity. It also limits the political blowback the Iraqi government would have to deal with. While Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi is keen to rein in the militias, if they are targeted in Iraq he would be put under great pressure from the militias and their backers.
Furthermore, Iraq is keen to de-escalate military actions before the visit of Pope Francis to Iraq next week. Mr Biden and Mr Al Kadhimi discussed the need to push back against the militias in a phone call on Tuesday night, emphasising the need to co-ordinate any response to the militias.
Of note is that the strikes were ordered on the same evening that Mr Biden called Saudi Arabia's King Salman. In that call, the American president reaffirmed his country's commitment to Saudi Arabia's security.
The White House read-out of the call stated that the two leaders discussed “the US commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups”.
Again, the White House enunciated its intention to confront Iranian-back groups in the region in a public statement. This is a clear message to the region – particularly to Tehran and its proxies – that the Biden administration will not turn a blind eye to militia activity.
Iran's leaders should comprehend that the Biden administration's policy will not be confined to tackling its nuclear programme, as some of Tehran's supporters advocated.
The American response to last week’s attacks in Iraq is bold and measured. For it to have a long-lasting effect, this type of pressure on Iranian-backed proxies must be sustained and consistent.
UAE Tour 2020
Stage 1: The Pointe Palm Jumeirah - Dubai Silicon Oasis, 148km
Stage 2: Hatta - Hatta Dam, 168km
Stage 3: Al Qudra Cycle Track - Jebel Hafeet, 184km
Stage 4: Zabeel Park - Dubai City Walk, 173km
Stage 5: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet, 162km
Stage 6: Al Ruwais - Al Mirfa, 158km
Stage 7: Al Maryah Island - Abu Dhabi Breakwater, 127km
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 0 Wolves 2 (Jimenez 3', Saiss 6)
Man of the Match Romain Saiss (Wolves)
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
