Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said he was "prepared for a very intense action" at the border with Lebanon and vowed to restore security to his country.
"We said, at the start of the war, that we would restore security in both the south and the north – and this is what we are doing," he said in a video taken near the border.
Mr Netanyahu was speaking during a visit to the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, a flashpoint for a string of massive fires that blazed across the northern border region this week. The fires were sparked at least in part by rockets and drones launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah.
The Prime Minister spoke to emergency workers and was briefed on the damage caused by eight months of daily battles with the powerful Lebanese paramilitary.
"Yesterday the ground burned here and I am pleased that you have extinguished it, but ground also burned in Lebanon," Mr Netanyahu said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hezbollah released a video that appeared to show a drone-guided artillery strike on a $50 million Israeli Iron Dome air defence battery – raising fears of further escalation on the border as Israel mobilises thousands of reservists.
It is unclear whether the Iron Dome battery was damaged or destroyed, with the images showing artillery shells exploding near the site, followed by a pall of dusty smoke.
The attack represents another advance in tactics used by Hezbollah as it moves from its long-expected approach to war with Israel, which was to saturate enemy territory with as many as 100,000 rockets, the majority of them unguided and inaccurate.
Many of those rockets – including more expensive guided missiles – can be intercepted by the Iron Dome system, which has taken down thousands of Hamas and Hezbollah rockets since war in Gaza erupted on October 7, a conflict the Lebanese militant group joined on Israel’s northern front on October 8.
Destroying an Iron Dome battery would be a major goal for Hezbollah as it opens up new avenues of attack into northern Israel and demonstrates the vulnerability of Israel’s much-vaunted air defences.
Hezbollah strikes on northern Israel sparked large fires near the border earlier this week, as Israeli officials said they are ready for a "major offensive" in the area.
An extra 50,000 reservists will be mobilised ahead of a potential escalation, Israeli media reported on Wednesday, with the initial quota of 300,000 troops increased to 350,000. The decision is expected to be formally approved by the government on Wednesday afternoon.
Using drones to guide artillery fire is increasingly becoming standard in modern military tactics. It was first used by US forces in the 1991 Gulf War, when a drone was used to guide naval artillery on to Iraqi positions.
More recently, the tactic has become a mainstay of Ukrainian and Russian forces, to devastating effect on each side.
Military experts sometimes call this the reconnaissance strike complex – integrating observation to strike targets quickly, at long range.
Drone war
Hezbollah has employed a range of new approaches in its war with Israel, including attempts to destroy Israeli observation balloons such as the $230 million Sky Dew blimp that was destroyed on May 15, denting Israel’s reconnaissance capability.
Hezbollah also used drones to fire rockets for the first time, striking an Israeli base in Metula on May 16 and wounding soldiers.
Israel uses its own drones, such as the $5 million Hermes 900, for reconnaissance and strike operations in Lebanon. It also launches air strikes from manned aircraft and conducts artillery strikes into Lebanon on a daily basis.
Hezbollah has shot down several Israeli drones using portable surface-to-air missiles.
Israeli missiles have killed about 80 civilians and around 300 Hezbollah members in Lebanon since October 7, according to a Reuters tally of deaths announced by medical and security sources.
Rockets fired from Lebanon have killed 18 soldiers and 10 civilians, the Israeli military said.
In at least one air strike, Israel claims to have hit a Hezbollah drone specialist.
On Tuesday, Israeli reservist Brig Gen Zvika Haimovich told Israel’s Radio North that the current conflict with Hezbollah could “be called a drone war”.
“It's not the main thing Hezbollah uses but they do have the ability to use it while our side has a weakness,” he said.
A major concern is around the use of a swarm of “dozens or hundreds of drones”, said Brig Gen Haimovich, comparing it to Iran’s April 14 attack that involved low-flying drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, in an attempt to overwhelm Israel's air defences.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
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The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Sonchiriya
Director: Abhishek Chaubey
Producer: RSVP Movies, Azure Entertainment
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranvir Shorey
Rating: 3/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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
The Dictionary of Animal Languages
Heidi Sopinka
Scribe
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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)
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
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Persuasion
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
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