Iraqi militias backed by Iran reportedly surged into Syria on Monday with 9,000 fighters, The National has been told by a commander of Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a collection of militias mostly backed by Iran. One aim of their deployment could be to shore up crumbling government defences in northern Hama.
These forces could theoretically bring powerful multi-launch rocket artillery to the fight, as well as drones provided by Iran. They join an estimated 200,000 regime forces, in addition to local militias, but these troops are spread across the country.
The surge of forces comes five days after a shock insurgent offensive captured Aleppo, the second-largest city in the country with a population of around two million. It was fought over for more than four years during the country's post-2011 civil war. Experts say the outcome of the current fighting is uncertain, and both sides face difficult battles in the coming days and months.
The attacks, spearheaded by militants from Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), designated a terrorist group by the US and the UN and formerly linked to Al Qaeda, were enabled by a gradually weakening Syrian regime. At the same time, experts say, a strengthening insurgent movement had time to recover from years of intense fighting in the country’s civil war, in the northern enclave of Idlib.
“The heart of the matter is morale, the decisive factor, and morale is very low on the regime side, for a number of reasons,” says Malik Al Abdeh, a London-based analyst who works in conflict mediation. “The government hasn't been able to convert the military victories that it achieved between 2016 and 2018, when Russia intervened decisively, and Iran was in a position to send massive enforcements, into a political victory.”
A decaying army
Syria’s economy has struggled to recover from years of civil war during which over 300,000 people are thought to have died and which devastated the country’s major cities. Even with limited funds and hyperinflation, the government has spent increasing sums trying to maintain a large army and a network of militias such as the National Defence Forces.
Last year, the government set the national minimum wage at $21 per month, chasing rampant inflation. Because payments are so low, there have been reports of some soldiers choosing to pay a small bribe to escape military service, or secretly work on the side, eroding the combat power of units. The weak economic conditions still provoke occasional protests, suggesting the northern insurgency could spread.
For most conscripts in the Syrian army, this minimum wage was the norm, but even at the height of the Syrian civil war in 2016, soldiers reported being paid just $65 a month. That sum dropped sharply amid worsening economic distress.
More recently, the army has moved towards a volunteer force, reportedly offering around two million Syrian pounds ($150) a month according to the Syrian Observer, an organisation which monitors government announcements.
The government failed to translate civil war victories into better governance and better services, better quality of life for ordinary Syrians, across the country
Malik Al Abdeh,
Analyst
That’s much more than most Syrians make, and, in theory, a strong incentive on the front lines. But it’s well below the World Bank poverty line of around $200 per month. Mr Al Abdeh says even with additional incentives, it’s not clear whether the debt-laden government can afford the additional salaries, even in a leaner force.
“The government failed to translate civil war victories into better governance and better services, better quality of life for ordinary Syrians, across the country. People who were sympathetic to the regime for a long time, have come to realise that actually the regime is simply a mafia. It's no longer a state.”
According to a report last year by the New Lines Institute think tank, political dysfunction has crept into the armed forces, including the formerly elite unit the Fourth Armoured Division, which has become widely associated with mafia-like racketeering operations.
By contrast, the militants appear highly organised. In recent analysis, US military analyst and historian Ben Connable points to their use of the latest military tactics, including FPV (first person view) drones, which have been used to devastating effect in Ukraine.
“Opposition units look to be well-equipped and aggressive. Video shows them using suicide drones, infantry-armour teams, and multiple-launch rockets,” he says, although he cautions these videos are curated and don’t necessarily show the full picture.
Nonetheless, “it looks like some of the battles that took place during the height of the fighting in the mid-2010s,” he says, an ominous sign for president Bashar Al Assad. During this period, most analysts agree that the involvement of Iranian advisers, Lebanese Hezbollah – both as fighters and advisers – and Russian air power and special forces, turned the tide for Mr Al Assad.
Rallying allies
At the height of the Syrian civil war Hezbollah might have had 10,000 fighters in the country, while Russia’s air strikes peaked at 150 a day. It’s not clear whether either of those allies can step in with that kind of force this time, with Hezbollah seriously damaged following its war with Israel and Russia heavily committed to its war in Ukraine.
Iran, meanwhile, has offered to help, but faces a logistical struggle on the country’s northern front with the loss of Aleppo International Airport, which used to be a conduit for arms transfers. Iran is also grappling with its own economic crisis.
In terms of equipment, Syria’s army has also been greatly weakened and has yet to recover from its civil war losses. According to a detailed analysis of video-recorded tank destruction by rebel groups and terrorists, including ISIS, researcher Jakub Janovský found 3,380 confirmed destroyed Syrian tanks in the conflict up to 2020. He notes the actual number of destroyed vehicles – he could only count those caught on camera – could be far higher.
This meant Syria could have lost most of its prewar tank force of around 5,500 vehicles. The cash-strapped country has been unable to re-equip these armoured forces with replacements, and now the rebels have captured dozens more.
“The lack of unified decision making and general complacency within Syrian forces, the fact they were so ill-prepared meant you had this rapid collapse, and once the insurgents broke through the first lines of west Aleppo it pretty much guaranteed the fall of the rest of the city. People who are supporters of the government or didn’t want to live under the insurgency all rapidly fled," says Aymenn Al Tamimi, an expert on militancy and translator.
This could raise the importance of the involvement of the Iraqi PMF. Elements of the PMF fought on the regime's side during the civil war. Religiously motivated militias, many of whom said they were going to Syria to defend holy shrines, such as the Sayyida Zainab shrine in Damascus, were among them.
Estimates of the number of HTS and allied forces currently fighting vary. HTS was thought to have 30,000 fighters in 2017, although estimates in 2020 put the figure closer to 20,000. Without further uprisings across the country, the regime could probably hold critical areas due to numerical advantages, Mr Al Abdeh says, providing it quickly deploys troops to key areas.
The Syrian National Army, a powerful umbrella group of rebels backed and armed by Turkey, has so far concentrated its operations against Kurdish militias, who are backed by the US but loosely aligned to Damascus. Their further involvement could be decisive, but for now HTS has pressed for a non-aggression pact with the Kurds.
“The Alawite core of the army, these are the people who are prepared to fight and die standing their ground, historically, since 2011. But now the Alawite component of the army is no longer prepared to die for areas that are not deemed as being their hometown. So this is a big problem because there's been a steady stream of deaths in places like the Syrian desert, because of ISIS activity there, and it’s been quite unpopular in Alawite areas," Mr Al Abdeh says.
“Iraqi militias could be sent north of Hama to shore up the defensive line rather than launch a massive counter-attack,” he says, noting that Damascus will push hard to defend the next strategically important city in the rebels' sights.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
more from Janine di Giovanni
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
%3Cp%3EAl%20Khayma%0D%3Cbr%3EBait%20Maryam%0D%3Cbr%3EBrasserie%20Boulud%0D%3Cbr%3EFi'lia%0D%3Cbr%3Efolly%0D%3Cbr%3EGoldfish%0D%3Cbr%3EIbn%20AlBahr%0D%3Cbr%3EIndya%20by%20Vineet%0D%3Cbr%3EKinoya%0D%3Cbr%3ENinive%0D%3Cbr%3EOrfali%20Bros%0D%3Cbr%3EReif%20Japanese%20Kushiyaki%0D%3Cbr%3EShabestan%0D%3Cbr%3ETeible%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If%20you%20go
%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20regular%20flights%20from%20Dubai%20to%20Kathmandu.%20Fares%20with%20Air%20Arabia%20and%20flydubai%20start%20at%20Dh1%2C265.%3Cbr%3EIn%20Kathmandu%2C%20rooms%20at%20the%20Oasis%20Kathmandu%20Hotel%20start%20at%20Dh195%20and%20Dh120%20at%20Hotel%20Ganesh%20Himal.%3Cbr%3EThird%20Rock%20Adventures%20offers%20professionally%20run%20group%20and%20individual%20treks%20and%20tours%20using%20highly%20experienced%20guides%20throughout%20Nepal%2C%20Bhutan%20and%20other%20parts%20of%20the%20Himalayas.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETelr%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202014%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E65%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20and%20payments%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enearly%20%2430%20million%20so%20far%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20OneOrder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tamer%20Amer%20and%20Karim%20Maurice%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E82%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
AVOID SCAMMERS: TIPS FROM EMIRATES NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Jawan
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Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
