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The family of three Syrian-Kurdish children killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon had tried to find safety elsewhere after the area became a conflict zone last year but returned five months ago as they could not afford the cost, the father of one of the victims told The National.
Brothers Jan, 9, and Mohammad Jarkas, 6, and their cousin Khalil Khalil, 11, were killed as they were playing outside their family home on a farm in the village of Umm Al Tut. Their funeral was held near the southern port city of Tyre on Wednesday.
Umm Al Tut, where the boys' family had worked at a fruit farm for years after fleeing Afrin in Syria, lies on the border with northern Israel where almost daily exchanges of fire have been taking place between the Israeli army and Hezbollah since the start of the Gaza war in October.
"We are Syrian. We came here to raise our children. I've been here since 2013, after the civil war began," said Mohamed Khalil, Khalil's father.
After the cross-border fire began, "we fled to Beirut, then to Dawra, and then to Jezzine. But we couldn't afford it. We were spending 10 days in one house, then moved to another. It wasn't a life. So we came back to Bustane and for five months, with the children, things were good," Mr Khalil said, his voice breaking as he spoke to The National by phone.
Harder for Syrians
"Yesterday, my son told me he wanted to play. I told him, 'OK come back in 30 minutes.' Then we heard the sound of an explosion. I couldn't find him right away.
"I don't know why this happened – for five months, nothing had happened, we were never targeted. Only God knows why."
Mr Khalil said the family were now in Qasmiyeh, a village about 7km north of Tyre. "I don't know what we will do or where we will go. We have no idea. Our situation is more difficult as Syrians trying to find a house. May God bring us back to our land. No one was raised to live in humiliation."
Most Lebanese residents of the border areas with Israel have moved away to safety, but it is not so easy for Syrian refugees such as Mr Khalil and his family.
"Their entire livelihood depends on farming," said Ahmad Al Adnan, the mayor of Al Bustan village near Umm Al Tut who now lives in Tyre.
"What would they do elsewhere? It's harder for Syrians to relocate."
Mr Al Adnan said the dead boys were from one of eight families who had stayed behind in the area, but Tuesday's attack sent them fleeing.
"They thought they would be safe: they’re peaceful civilians, children, farmers, not hiding from anything. They were wrong," he told The National.
The cross-border violence started after Hezbollah fired missiles into northern Israel in support of its ally Hamas, which launched a deadly attack into southern Israel on October 7, prompting an Israeli offensive in Gaza.
The exchanges of fire have gradually extended beyond the border area, with Israel striking deeper north into Lebanese territory, and Hezbollah launching heavier and longer-range weaponry into northern Israel. More than 511 people have been killed, mostly fighters but also at least 107 civilians, according to an AFP tally. At least 150,000 people have been displaced on both sides of the border, more than 90,000 in Lebanon.
Israel's message to villagers
Mr Al Adnan said the drone strike in Umm Al Tut was to send a clear message to remaining residents in southern Lebanon and to turn villages into ghost towns.
"All the families have left the village after the killing. The parents have temporarily moved to Tyre and I don't know what will happen to them next," he said.
"Israel wants to scare us and when you see what’s happening in Gaza, with dozens of children dying every day and no one to hold them accountable internationally, why would they care? Children are dying for nothing, this should stop."
Unicef described the killing of the three children on Tuesday as horrific and warned that "more children are at risk as long as the violence continues".
Two Syrian men were killed earlier on Tuesday in a drone strike on their motorcycle as they rode towards the town of Kafr Tibnita. Security sources identified them as Abdul Muttalib Abdul Fattah Nanis and Hamza Marhej Shaaban.
Hezbollah fired dozens of Katyusha rockets at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona in what it said was retaliation for “the targeting of civilians, especially Kafr Tibnit, and the martyrdom of two civilians”.
Hezbollah's vow
In a televised address to mark the Shiite holy day of Ashura on Wednesday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the group could expand its attacks in Israel.
“Continuing to target civilians will push the resistance to launch rockets and target new settlements that have not been targeted before," he said.
Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have mounted in recent weeks as diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza have stalled. Israel has prepared for a land incursion into southern Lebanon to restore security for its displaced residents on the northern border. Hezbollah has said it does not want a war but it is ready for one if it is imposed on Lebanon.
"If your tanks enter Lebanon and its southern regions, you won’t have to worry about a shortage of tanks – there will be no tanks left," Mr Nasrallah said, referring to Israel's recent admission of a shortage of armoured military vehicles and ammunition.
Mr Nasrallah has repeatedly said Hezbollah will stop its attacks only in the event of a ceasefire in Gaza. In that case, he said, "the responsibility for negotiating and providing answers falls to the Lebanese state".
Regarding the destruction in south Lebanon, which has suffered at least $1.7 billion in damage, Lebanese authorities estimate, the Hezbollah leader said villages would be rebuilt to "their former state" and "even more beautiful, for they stand as symbols of our steadfastness and resistance".
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
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
RESULTS
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Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
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- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
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- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
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- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
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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
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
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
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All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
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Tests 46; Runs 2,103; Best 166; Average 32.85; 100s 6; 50s 8; Wickets 42; Best 4-47
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Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
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2/5
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Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
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- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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