Syrian authorities said on Thursday that security forces seized 600,000 Captagon pills that were to be smuggled into Iraq, in a rare raid on the narcotics trade dominated by Iran-backed groups, as Damascus comes under pressure from Israel over its ties with Tehran.
A security unit in Damascus foiled the smuggling attempt and confiscated the amphetamine-type stimulant from a car after storming a farm on the outskirts of the capital, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. A man was arrested, it said, without revealing his nationality. He is part of a network that transports and smuggles drugs to Iraq through Syria, the statement said, adding that a search is on for his accomplices.
Iraq is one of the transit points to Saudi Arabia and Europe for Captagon manufactured in Syria. Iraq is also a conduit for raw materials from Afghanistan for Captagon and other drugs produced in Syria, where cartels in areas of Iranian influence have developed economies of scale.
Elite Syrian army and intelligence units, which underpin the ruling system, have come under attack by Israel in the past several months, straining the alliance between Damascus and Tehran. Since the 2011 Syrian revolt, Iran has deployed proxy militia in Syria that became interlinked with a multi-billion dollar trade in narcotics sourced from the country. Together with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the militias control a corridor from Iraq to the border with Lebanon.
Israeli planes on Thursday struck a road and workshops in the central area of Qusayr, residents said on WhatsApp groups, in the latest raid of the area on the border with Hezbollah's strongholds in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Official media quoted a Syrian military official as saying Israel targeted residential buildings.
Earlier this month, pro-regime Telegram groups said the army had banned Lebanese cars from entering areas near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where Hezbollah and Iraqi militias are widely believed to have built up a mostly clandestine presence in recent years.
This week, security restrictions were placed on Iraqis seeking to enter Syria, Syrian and Iraqi sources said. A travel agent in Baghdad who handles trips to Syria told The National that Iraqis will have to apply online through travel agents for security permission to enter Syria, for a $70 fee. A further $50 is required for a visa once security permission is granted.
In another development indicating possible pressure on Iraqis in Syria, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it was providing buses to transport those who wish to "return voluntarily". They should contact the embassy in Damascus to reserve a seat, it said.
According to posts on pro-regime Syrian Telegram groups, Iraqis wanting to enter the country must also provide proof of a hotel reservation. "It is joyous news," a member of one group commented.
Previously, Iraqis were automatically issued a Syrian visa at the port of entry. Authorities have not declared the visa requirements and there has been no official Syrian announcement about the new restrictions.
Curbing the Captagon trade was also a condition under which Arab countries started normalising ties with Damascus in the last two years, although there has been little indication of a decline in the flows. In May, the Iraqi and Syrian interior ministries signed a security agreement that included a commitment to combat the flow of narcotics across the border.
The Syrian side of the border is controlled by the pro-Iranian groups. Other parts of the border are under the control of a Kurdish-led militia supported by Washington.
The US Treasury Department earlier this month placed fresh sanctions on figures linked to Syria's ruling elite and Hezbollah. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Captagon is “a source of funding for the Syrian regime" and for Hezbollah.
Although Hezbollah and Iraqi militias enter unchecked into Syria, and are too powerful to be made to submit to local curbs on their activities, the latest moves by Damascus appear to signal new limits to the open-door policy towards Iraqis shuttling between their country and areas of Iranian influence in Syria. Large numbers of Iraqis enter Syria each year. Many are Shiites visiting a shrine near Damascus, and thousands of Shiite militiamen are also stationed in Syria, with many bringing in their families.
In addition to Russian support, the Syrian military fought alongside these Iran-backed groups to capture rebel areas, with civil war fronts still active in northern Syria and other regions. However, since September, Israel has increasingly launched attacks on Syrian security sites, including the elite Fourth Mechanised Division and Syrian Intelligence compounds, as well as launching raids on Iraqi militia targets, Hezbollah and the IRGC. This has raised pressure on the ruling elite in Damascus, who depended on pro-Iranian auxiliaries, as well as Russia's military intervention, for survival throughout the Syrian civil war.
Arab and Western intelligence sources say Israel has abandoned the restraint it has previously shown when it comes to attacking the top echelons of the Syrian military. Brig Gen Maher Al Assad, the President's brother and the second most powerful man in Syria, may have become a target because of his close ties with Iran, the sources said. He controls the Fourth Mechanised Division, the best-equipped unit in the army, which is in charge of border areas.
Earlier this month, Israel launched air strikes on the Syrian coastal city of Latakia, near the Alawite Mountains, the heartland of the Alawite minority religious sect that has monopolised power in Syria since a 1963 coup.
The attack, which according to sources in the Syrian opposition hit a weapons storage facility, was seen as another Israeli warning to Mr Al Assad. He has a palace near Latakia and many Alawite officers who control the security apparatus come from there.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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)
Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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
Zayed Sustainability Prize
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
More coverage from the Future Forum
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPOPC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAmna%20Aijaz%2C%20Haroon%20Tahir%20and%20Arafat%20Ali%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eart%20and%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%20u%3C%2Fstrong%3Endisclosed%20amount%20raised%20through%20Waverider%20Entertainment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
The years Ramadan fell in May
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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.
More from Aya Iskandarani
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
The%20Mother%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Niki%20Caro%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jennifer%20Lopez%2C%20Joseph%20Fiennes%2C%20Gael%20Garcia%20Bernal%2C%20Omari%20Hardwick%20and%20Lucy%20Paez%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More on Quran memorisation:
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
