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Iran's direct attack on Israel briefly took their war from shadow to daylight, but any further escalation now depends on the extent of the Israeli retaliation, sources and experts told The National on Sunday.
The hundreds of missiles and drones that Iran launched from its territory mark the start of a new chapter in the confrontation between the two countries as it is the first known direct attack by Tehran against its regional foe.
"This is not Iran's savoir-faire", a regional security source said.
"Tehran's response to the shocking Damascus strike is calculated. It does not want to look weak but also does not want to be dragged into open war. It has its proxies, so why would it fight if someone else can do it on its behalf?"
It does not want to look weak - but also does not want to be dragged into open war
Security source
More than 300 drones and missiles were fired from Iran at Israel overnight, 99 per cent of which were shot down, the Israeli military said on Sunday. Its armed forces remained fully functional and were discussing follow-up options, it added. Earlier this week Israel said it would retaliate with an attack on Iranian territory if it was attacked by Iran.
Tehran said the attack was in retaliation for a deadly Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1, which killed two commanders and other members of its elite force. Israel says Iran is arming and supporting Hamas in Gaza, where it has been waging a war that has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians.
As Israel, the US, the UK and other nations intercepted the missiles, Iran quickly announced its retaliation had ended and that the next move was up to Israel.
"The scenes of missiles and drones and attempts to shoot them down in the skies of Israel misleadingly suggest that what is happening is random and massive targeting to inflict the greatest possible harm. But it is an exaggeration to portray it this way", a source close to Iran's regional proxies in the region said.
"It is clear, and according to Iranian announcements, that the goal was limited."
In Tehran, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisis said the "warriors" of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) taught Israel "an unforgettable lesson".
“Last night, a new page in the history of Iran’s authority was turned and it taught a lesson to the Israeli enemy,” Mr Raisi said in a statement on Sunday.
No intention of new attacks
The Iranian chief of staff of the armed forces, Maj Gen Mohammad Baqeri, confirmed his country has no intention of continuing to attack Israel.
"Our response will be much larger than last night's military action if Israel retaliates against Iran," he was quoted by state-run media as saying and warned Washington its bases could also be attacked if it helped Israel retaliate.
"The operation took place because the Zionist regime had crossed Iran's red line, and it was unacceptable," he added.
Iran has engaged in indirect negotiations with the US to extend a truce in Iraq to additional areas. The most recent attack by Iraqi groups aligned with Tehran on US forces was on February 4.
During these discussions, Tehran aimed to leverage concessions from Washington that might result in the release of billions of dollars from its accounts, which are currently frozen due to sanctions linked to its nuclear programme, sources said in recent weeks.
US President Joe Biden "wants to contain the situation. Despite his involvement in shooting down the Iranian missiles and drones, it is not in his domestic political interest to admit that his policy of containing the Gaza War has failed and that the United States has been dragged into a new and more dangerous regional quagmire", a source with knowledge of the talks told The National.
"At the same time, Biden will not want to show that he understands the Iranian position. Showing cracks in his relationship with Israel at such a moment would cause harm to him. This is why we are unlikely to see conciliatory or friendly initiatives towards Tehran now. He will reaffirm his support for Israel and its defence," added the source.
"The danger is that if Israel resorts to a military operation harmful to Iran, despite any US objection, Biden will naturally side with Israel, which is an inevitable choice that Benjamin Netanyahu is aware of and may exploit to his advantage."
The role of Iran's regional allies in the attack on Israel was limited.
Yemen's Houthi rebels reportedly launched drones at Israel, according to security agency Ambrey, and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia announced it had fired rockets at Israeli positions in the occupied Golan Heights at about the same time, as well as a second barrage hours later.
"If Iran is exposed to harm, such as attacking sites on its territory, the factions of the Axis of Resistance will automatically find themselves in the battle. This means the complete collapse of the Iraqi truce", the source close to Iran's proxies said.
"The groups seemed almost calm yesterday. This is not a coincidence. This relative silence is a confirmation of the Iranian message itself, that the response was limited."
For Mohanad Hage-Ali, deputy director for research at the Malcolm H Kerr Carnegie Middle East Centre, a line was crossed and "Israel now has an alibi to respond on Iranian soil".
But a retaliation "will need a US green light, and there might be a pushback", he said.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATHC INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
MATCH INFO
Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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Available: Now
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Champions League last 16, first leg
Tottenham v RB Leipzig, Wednesday, midnight (UAE)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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