Conflict has escalated in the past several days between US forces and Iranian-aligned militias in eastern Syria, which has been at the centre of the 12-year international struggle in the country.
The outcome will also affect Russia and Turkey ― which have troops there and are keen to expand their on interests ― and Damascus, amid Arab and Turkish efforts for a rapprochement with President Bashar Al Assad.
Washington has made it clear that treating Damascus like any normal government will embolden the regime, which it blames for the failure to implement UN resolutions on a political transition and the safe return of millions of refugees.
The US has also acted as the bulwark against a Turkish drive to take territory in northern and eastern Syria captured by a Kurdish militia known as the People's Protection Units, or YPG, which helped to defeat ISIS there four years ago.
On Thursday, a drone attack killed an American contractor at a US base in Hasakah governorate, which is largely under YPG control.
The killing drew US air strikes on Iranian-aligned militia in the nearby governorate of Deir Ezzor. More retaliations followed, although the violence lessened on Sunday.
"Mr Al Assad and Iran are seeing the Americans as their only remaining problem in Syria," said an officer who defected from the Syrian military and joined the opposition.
"Everyone else is seeking to reconnect with the regime."
Tension after Iran deal pull-out
Since the US pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal five years ago, there have been dozens of attacks on American bases in eastern Syria, which Washington has blamed on Iran-aligned militias.
But US retaliation this time has focused on urban targets in Deir Ezzor, inside the provincial capital and in the city of Mayadeen, as opposed to outlying areas of desert.
Areas south of the Euphrates river in Deir Ezzor are largely controlled by pro-Iranian militias, some of whom are also based in Iraq.
Areas north of the river are controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a paramilitary force set up by the US and dominated by the YPG.
The Syrian officer said that Thursday's attacks on US bases, one of which killed the contractor, would have been difficult without the pro-Iranian militias obtaining Moscow's approval.
"Before Ukraine the Russians would have likely tried to warn the Americans of such an attack," he said, referring to the deterioration of ties between Moscow and Washington since the invasion of Ukraine.
He said Russian bases in Deir Ezzor city and in a desert area to the south monitor Iranian movements in the area, which is largely inhabited by Sunni tribes who changed allegiances during the 12-year conflict, having initially joined the revolt against five decades of Assad family rule.
The Syrian conflict started in 2011, when the regime suppressed mass pro-democracy demonstrations that started in southern Syria.
By the end of the year the revolt had militarised and Mr Al Assad lost large parts of the country to rebels supported by Arab and Western countries.
Shiite militias recruited by Iran helped the regime preserve its seat of power in Damascus and, in late 2015, intervention by Russia regained major cities and towns to the central government.
But Syria remains fragmented, with the US, Turkey, Russia and Iran each having spheres of influence manned by local or foreign militias.
Deir Ezzor, which borders Iraq, is regarded as a crucial link in a supply route between Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The route passes through Iraq, including the strategically important border town of Al Qaim, through to Abu Kamal on the Syrian side of the border in Deir Ezzor, and the governorate of Homs on the border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah has a significant presence.
In a letter to Congress, US President Joe Biden said that the American strike on Deir Ezzor were to “deter … Iran and Iran-backed militia groups from conducting or supporting further attacks on United States personnel".
A coalition of Shiite militias, mostly Iraqi, operate in eastern Syria, with some of their commanders having defected to Iran during the Iraq-Iran war between 1980 to 1988.
Among them is Kataib Hezbollah, the most well-armed non-state group in Iraq, the Imam Ali Brigades, Kataib Sayyed Al Shuhadaa and Hezbollah Al Nujabaa.
Most of them also have a presence on the Iraqi side of the border with Syria, to secure the supply line to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
An official working for the Kurdish-dominated administration in eastern Syria said although it was impossible to know for certain why Iran chose to initiate the confrontation, moves by Washington in recent months to strengthen the pro-US administration in eastern Syria may have been a factor.
He cited US efforts to solve differences between the YPG and Arab tribes, as well as putting pressure on the YPG to moderate its suppression of Kurds opposed to militia rule.
Turkish attacks on Kurdish targets in Syria over the past year, he said, also eliminated many Kurdish commanders with channels to Iran.
These commanders belonged to the Kurdistan Workers Party, a senior Turkish parent organisation to the YPG.
"Iran is sending a message that it is still a main power in the area," the official said.
The%20specs
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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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
Company Profile
Company name: Big Farm Brothers
Started: September 2020
Founders: Vishal Mahajan and Navneet Kaur
Based: Dubai Investment Park 1
Industry: food and agriculture
Initial investment: $205,000
Current staff: eight to 10
Future plan: to expand to other GCC markets
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
The five pillars of Islam
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Liz%20Truss
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BELGIUM%20SQUAD
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What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
