The US on Thursday carried out air strikes in Syria against facilities belonging to Iran-backed Iraqi militias.
President Joe Biden's first military action in the Middle East came in response to recent attacks against American and coalition personnel in Iraq.
The strike occurred near Bukamal, on the Syria-Iraq border, and targeted infrastructure belonging to Iranian-backed Iraqi militia groups Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid Al Shuhada.
"We have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq," said Pentagon press secretary John Kirby.
The extent of the damage and casualties has yet to be confirmed. A Kataib Hezbollah source told The National that one member of the militia was killed in the strikes and several others injured.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor that follows the conflict in Syria through sources in the country, reported that 17 militia members were killed.
“I’m confident in the target that we went after, we know what we hit,” US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said, speaking shortly after the air strikes.
“We’re confident that that target was being used by the same Shia militants that conducted the strikes,” he said, referring to a February 15 rocket attack in Erbil.
Mr Austin said he recommended the action to Mr Biden.
"We're very deliberate about our approach, as you would expect us to be," the former general said. "We allowed and encouraged the Iraqis to investigate and develop intelligence, and that was very helpful to us in refining the target."
The US military response came after Iran-made rockets were used in an attack last week against a military complex in Erbil, where US-led coalition troops are based. The strike in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq killed one civilian contractor and wounded a US serviceman and nine others.
The US said their response was proportionate and "conducted together with diplomatic measures", including consultation with US partners in the anti-ISIS coalition.
The move from Mr Biden appeared limited in scope, while still sending a message to Iran that the US will not tolerate military aggression.
The US conducted seven air strikes targeting a border crossing used by the Iran-backed militia groups to move weapons and goods across the Iraqi-Syria border, Politico reported.
The decision from Mr Biden to use military force against Iran-supported groups came as the two countries face a stalemate over returning to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The deal was abandoned by former president Donald Trump in 2018.
Mr Biden may have chosen a measured military response, targeting infrastructure and possibly hoping to minimise casualties, in order to keep negotiations going between Iran and the US.
The strategic decision to carry out the strike in Syria, and not in Iraq, will provide the Iraqi government with breathing room as it carries out its own investigation into the February 15 attack that wounded Americans.
Mr Biden may have also avoided an attack in Iraq to discourage Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq from furthering their campaign for US troop withdrawals.
Iran-linked groups in Iraq have long pushed for the US to leave the country, with the intention of filling the security vacuum that would result from a US exit.
"If the troop withdrawal occurs it will leave Iraq in the hands of Hashed Al Shaabi and Iranian proxy forces," a Kurdish government official told The National.
After the January 2020 airstrike that killed Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and senior Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, politicians in Iraq voted in parliament for foreign forces to leave the country.
Retaliatory US military strikes occurred several times in the past few years when US military interests in Iraq were regularly targeted.
MATCH INFO
Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')
Germany 1
Ozil (11')
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Specs
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The 24-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea/Dortmund), Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli).
Standby player: Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles FC).
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Brief scores:
Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf
Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)
Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17
Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)
Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
