Gunmen opening fire on worshippers at a mosque in Oman show how a terrorist cell made inroads into a peaceful Gulf nation and will lead to increased security in the region, experts said.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack which killed six people and wounded dozens, mainly Pakistani residents, at Imam Ali Mosque in Muscat on Monday night.
It shows how ISIS is still a threat to everyone, everywhere in the world, even in a peaceful county like Oman
Farea Al Muslimi,
research fellow at Chatham House
Experts who study extremist organisations said the more than 10-hour siege in a residential neighbourhood had all the hallmarks of the terrorist group.
“This is an unprecedented attack in Oman. No one expected this could happen and I believe many leaders and policymakers are in shock,” said Zana Gul, a lecturer in international politics at the University of Stirling in Scotland.
“Security will ramp up because this incident is a shock to the political system, not just in Oman but across the Gulf region.
“All Gulf countries have a strong, professional security apparatus that controls the region but this has shown there is a loophole.
“Governments will be more rigorous, monitor the situation more carefully and there will be an increase in security operations.”
The attack would also result in intensified security collaboration between Oman and other Gulf states, he said.
Defeated but still active
Followers of ISIS have continued to carry out isolated attacks even after the extremist group was defeated in the areas of Iraq and Syria it seized and declared its caliphate in 2014. The US-led coalition against ISIS and allied Syrian forces freed the last ISIS stronghold in 2019, marking the territorial defeat of the group.
But ISIS has claimed many attacks since in Iraq, Syria and Europe, either through sleeper cells or people acting alone, and an offshoot in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K, has a strong presence in some areas.
Mr Gul said territorial defeat was not enough to end the ISIS threat and eliminating its ideology was crucial to limiting its ability to recruit.
“ISIS in Iraq is militarily defeated but ideologically is still there,” he said.
“They are absolutely not as powerful as they once were, but political instability, social and economic conditions provide avenues for these cells to continue to carry out dangerous acts.
“If you have a transparent government, a strong economy and employment, ISIS will not be able to recruit more candidates.”
Former US Central Command chief Gen Frank McKenzie, who oversaw the 2019 raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi in Syria, has also highlighted the threat posed by the ability of the terror group to attract followers through literature or the internet, saying this “may be one of the most dangerous methods that ISIS can use to generate attacks”.
The Omani government said it was ready to "confront any challenges" to its national security, in a statement issued after the shooting, and that investigations were under way to determine the motive.
Stoking tension
Mr Gul, who has published several papers on the rise of ISIS and terrorism, said a common pattern was for the group to stoke friction between communities.
The gunmen attacked the mosque in Oman on the eve of Ashura, a day sacred to Shiites.
“One of their key strategies is to divide communities, specifically Sunnis and Shias. The other reason could be that ISIS sleeper cells are trying to provoke tension between communities,” he said.
“In Oman, the Sunni and Shia sects live in tolerance and have friendly relations.”
ISIS broadcast a video claiming responsibility for the attack on Tuesday, with visuals showing three men with assault rifles raising the black ISIS flag.
Survivors told The National about people being gunned down as they ran to the mosque and worshippers shot dead as volunteers attempted to drag them to safety.
“This was a dream case for ISIS – they got the world’s attention with an attack on the most stable country in the Gulf and that is exactly what they want,” said Farea Al Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
“The significance is that as Oman was perceived as an island of peace and stability, this is a brutal reminder of the fact that conflicts are transnational and cross border.
“It shows how ISIS is still a threat to everyone, everywhere in the world, even in a peaceful county like Oman.”
The shooting in Muscat was a reminder of another ISIS attack on a Shiite mosque in Saudi Arabia in 2015, in which a suicide bomber killed at least 21 people.
“It is sufficient to have one incident to disrupt peace and stability in the area,” said Mr Al Muslimi, whose research focuses on Yemen and the wider Gulf region.
“As it becomes more feasible to do this, it becomes more tricky for security organisations to hunt down radicals.”
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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 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
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
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
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
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How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Copa del Rey
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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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
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
More coverage from the Future Forum
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2a)
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RIDE%20ON
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Zayed Sustainability Prize
