Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Funerals were held in Hodeidah on Monday and residents rushed to buy groceries amid fears of food shortages and more Israeli strikes on Yemen after the Houthis attacked Tel Aviv.
Yemen's crucial western city remains in shock. As does Israel.
Friday's Houthi attack was the longest-range strike in the conflict so far. Israeli assessment was that the drone travelled 2,600km to its target. Israel retaliated by targeting the port of Hodeidah, the main entry point for aid to Yemen. It was one of its longest aerial missions to date, a 3,600km round trip with an unknown amount of time spent over Yemen, the impoverished country ravaged by a decade-long civil war.
The rebels’ drone that hit Tel Aviv marked an unprecedented attack on Israel. It struck a diplomatic neighbourhood housing the US embassy, killing one and injuring several. While experts initially deemed it a “lucky” strike among many that failed to reach their targets, sources revealed on Monday that the attack was calculated and co-ordinated with regional allies.
Much like Hezbollah in Lebanon and other armed groups in Syria and Iraq, the Houthis are part of the Axis of Resistance, an anti-Israel political and military coalition in the Middle East led by Tehran. Since the war in Gaza started in October, the axis has operated through a daily co-ordination process and under joint command, mainly focused on picking up targets and the timing of attacks against Israel in support of Hamas in the Palestinian territory.
“Several fronts have risen to support Gaza. The co-ordination is a strength factor as these fronts complement each other to pressure Israel to stop its aggression and lift its siege on Gaza,” a Yemeni source told The National.
“This strike on Tel Aviv was no different. It was well co-ordinated: the target, the timing and the weapon. It was a combined regional decision,” explained the source. The goal was to declare “the opening of a new phase of escalation in response to Israeli massacres”.
Another source close to armed factions in the region confirmed that the strike was communicated to other groups.
The source said the attempt to hit Tel Aviv with a new advanced drone was linked to “Israel’s escalation by targeting safe areas in Gaza, homes of civilians in the heart of Lebanese villages and the recent killing of Hezbollah commanders”.
It also came to push for “a more efficient US movement to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and for the US to put more pressure to stop the Israeli war”.
“The Tel Aviv strike is the harshest warning from the axis of armed groups against Israel so far,” added the source.
Made in Yemen
Houthi rebels form a heavily armed militia that controls Yemen's capital Sanaa and other regions in the north and west. It has bolstered its fighting capabilities since the civil war started in the country in 2014, posing a serious threat to its neighbours and maritime shipping lanes.
Up until the end of 2018, the Houthis frequently used ballistic missiles they captured from army depots. But in the past five years, they have shifted to small, long-range, explosive unmanned aircraft that can evade radar detection.
Most of the group's weapons had been based on Iranian designs or entirely Iranian in origin, renamed in Houthi service. However, the Houthis have now reportedly become self-sufficient in developing their armoury and no longer require significant help from Tehran.
On Sunday evening, the group’s leader Abdulmalik Al Houthi, revealed Palestinian factions were informed of the “new drone” that hit Tel Aviv, and that its name, Yafa, was chosen by Palestinians.
“It was made in Yemen and launched by Yemenis,” he said in a speech.
The militant leader added that his group “will keep escalating as long as the Israeli enemy escalates”. He also hailed the “strong co-ordination between us and the brothers on all fronts”, adding that “whoever describes our stance as merely an Iranian stance is an agent of Israel”.
Since the outbreak of Israel's war in Gaza, the Yemeni rebels launched dozens of attacks on international shipping in the strategic waters off Yemen.
In April, Yemeni political sources told The National that the rebels had dismissed incentives proposed by the US to curb their attacks in the Red Sea, which included lifting the blockade on Sanaa and Hodeidah port, as well as hastening peace talks.
A Hamas official on Monday said US envoys were also sent to Lebanon recently to “separate the Lebanese front” from supporting Gaza. “They failed,” he added.
Meanwhile, two days after the Israeli strike, smoke continues to rise from the port of Hodeidah, covering the sky with a grey haze. Petrol stations are shutting down, making movement and access to resources difficult and slow.
Residents report that the Houthis are monitoring the situation closely to prevent queues and any potential problems. As they prepare for further hardship, the rebels, seeking a broader regional influence to strengthen their position in Yemeni peace negotiations, look determined to escalate the conflict.
“We are happy that the battle today is directly between the Israeli enemy and us”, said Mr Al Houthi in his speech, referring to strikes previously carried out by the US and the UK on Houthi positions in the country witnessing one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises.
The source close to armed factions in the region said the aim is now to “keep reminding the Israelis that they aren’t safe” as long as the war in Gaza continues.
“Hitting Tel Aviv from Yemen, with a drone journey requiring about 12 hours of flight, is a psychological blow to Israeli security, to the most vital area in Israel in terms of population, economy and security concentration. It serves as a reminder to the Israelis they are not safe from the sparks and fragments of war,” said the source.
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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
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
The five pillars of Islam
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')
Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)
Dubai World Cup nominations
UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer
USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.
Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
The 12
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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