Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reached unprecedented levels on Friday after Israel killed senior Hezbollah commanders in Beirut, saying no political solution could solve tensions on its northern border and military pressure on the group must be stepped up.
An Israeli official told The National that Israel was taking a new approach towards Hezbollah, the clearest sign yet that after 11 months of fighting the two sides are on the brink of a full-scale war.
The change paves the way for more intense Israeli military action in Lebanon, following a week of aggressive attacks including intensifying its bombing campaign, assassinating senior Hezbollah leaders and allegedly detonating communication devices belonging to Hezbollah members, killing dozens and injuring thousands, including civilians.
The latest Israeli attack killed senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil along with at least 45 people on Friday. The strike, which destroyed a residential building in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahieh, also wounded 68.
Hezbollah officially confirmed the death of its senior commander in a statement in the early hours of Saturday. Several hours later, the group announced the death of a second commander, Ahmed Wahbi, who oversaw the military operations of its Radwan special forces during the Gaza war until early 2024.
Dozens of relatives of missing people waited near a security cordon for news of their family members, possibly still trapped under the rubble.
A woman in a black hijab asked Red Cross workers for news of her daughter. “I went to St George hospital and St Therese and no one knows where my daughter is. There has to be some way you can find out,” she said to a group of paramedics.
“There is nothing we can do in these cases because most of the time we don’t know if the person who was rescued is alive or dead, or still under the rubble, or what hospital they went to,” a civil defence worker told The National.
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israeli forces killed Mr Aqil, along with other top operatives and the chain command of Hezbollah's elite Radwan forces.
“They gathered underground, under a residential building, in the heart of Dahieh, while using civilians as a human shield. They met to co-ordinate terror activities against Israeli civilians,” he said at a press conference.
Hezbollah did not comment on the alleged killing of other top operatives.
“It’s a dark series [of events] for Hezbollah,” Karim El Mufti, a professor of international relations at Sciences Po in Paris, told The National. “Israel has shifted from a defensive stance to an aggressive one. For Israel, the front has become a unified battlefield across the entire axis of resistance. There is no need to ask when the war is coming – it’s already unfolding before our eyes.”
Mr Mufti described the conflict as a “strategic war of attrition”. “Israel doesn’t need to bomb the whole southern suburbs when it can target commanders and thousands of militiamen without worrying about collateral damage and while keeping international support, particularly from the US,” he said. “Now, Hezbollah is cornered, as it does not want a full-scale war but is seeking retaliation – yet, what kind of response could match these attacks?”
The Beirut strike is the third by Israel on the Lebanese capital since Israel and Hezbollah started exchanging fire on October 8 amid the Gaza war. The militant group announced the death of two of its fighters in Friday's attack. Lebanon's ministry of health said 14 people were killed and 66 wounded.
Israeli media reported that Mr Aqil was one of the primary commanders responsible for drawing up Hezbollah battle plans for a future takeover of northern Israel’s Galilee region.
Images from Dahieh showed plumes of smoke over the area. Clips shared on social media portrayed scenes of chaos, a building completely levelled, and mangled cars across a busy street. Ambulances were rushed to the scene.
Calls for blood donations for the victims were multiplying on social media. People searching for their loved ones also took to social media to ask for help, sharing pictures of their missing relatives, including children.
The General Directorate of Civil Defence urged “citizens to evacuate the site of the collapsed building” as rescue operations were under way to find those missing under the rubble. The security services imposed a cordon across the site, it added.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the Israeli strike showed Israel “gives no weight to any humanitarian, legal, or moral considerations”.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US was “not aware of any prior notification of Israeli strikes on Beirut”.
“We continue to believe that a diplomatic solution is the best way to move forward in the Middle East,” added Mr Kirby, who said “no one has lost hope” regarding a hostage-release and ceasefire agreement in Gaza between Hamas and Israel.
Heightened tensions
The strike follows attacks across Lebanon on communication devices used by members of Iran-backed Hezbollah on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those explosions killed 37 people, injured thousands, and were widely blamed on Israel.
On Friday, Hezbollah fired around 150 rockets into northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights, according to the Israeli army, in response to Israel's extensive overnight air strikes on south Lebanon. The intensification of Israel's air campaign came hours after a speech by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in which he dared Israel's military to set foot on Lebanese soil.
Hezbollah said it fired “volleys of Katyusha rockets” at six Israeli military installations, including the northern command’s main air defence missile base, near Safad city, and another defence headquarters in the occupied Golan. Israel renewed its orders for civilians in the north and the Golan Heights to stay close to bomb shelters and limit their movements. The barrage caused several fires in parts of Safad, Israeli media reported.
The previous night, Israeli strikes ignited fires in parts of south Lebanon, including Jezzine, with the army saying it “struck hundreds of rocket launcher barrels that were ready to be used immediately to fire towards Israeli territory”. The Israeli army also said it hit “additional terrorist infrastructure sites” and it restated a commitment to “continue demolishing Hezbollah's infrastructure and capabilities”.
The bombardment occurred shortly after Hezbollah launched a barrage of Falaq missiles at Metulla in northern Israel, destroying about half of the houses in the town, according to media reports.
Israel's escalation of air strikes and espionage operations has stoked international fears that they are a prelude to a ground invasion of Lebanon.
Almost a year of cross-border fighting has prevented tens of thousands of residents on both sides of the border from returning to their homes. Hezbollah has vowed to prevent Israelis from returning if a ceasefire is not achieved in Gaza, while Israeli officials have consistently threatened an invasion that aims to create a security buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon and allow Israelis to return.
Fighter jets had carried out a series of heavy strikes on south Lebanon's frontier shortly before Mr Nasrallah's speech on Thursday.
Naga
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How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019
December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'
JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.
“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”
November 26: ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’
SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue.
SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."
October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'
MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.
“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December."
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Scoreline
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17
Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson
Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
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
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
- Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
- Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
- Synthetic fibres that make up the average garment can take hundreds of years to biodegrade
- Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
- 27 million fast fashion workers worldwide suffer from work-related illnesses and diseases
- Hundreds of thousands of fast fashion labourers work without rights or protection and 80 per cent of them are women
Indian origin executives leading top technology firms
Sundar Pichai
Chief executive, Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella
Chief executive, Microsoft
Ajaypal Singh Banga
President and chief executive, Mastercard
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe
Indra Nooyi
Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 715bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,289,376
On sale: now
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20series%20X%2FS%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Thor: Ragnarok
Dir: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson
Four stars
TEAMS
US Team
Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger
Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler
Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed
Matt Kuchar, Kevin Chappell
Charley Hoffman*, Phil Mickelson*
International Team
Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day
Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen
Marc Leishman, Charl Schwartzel
Branden Grace, Si Woo Kim
Jhonattan Vegas, Adam Hadwin
Emiliano Grillo*, Anirban Lahiri*
* denotes captain's picks
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
