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An Israeli strike destroyed a bridge in the upper reaches of northern Lebanon, official media said on Sunday, in an expansion of an air campaign against Hezbollah supply lines from Syria.
Lebanon's National News Agency said that one child was killed in the attack on Akroum, in Akkar governorate, on the border with Syria. The attack destroyed a bridge linking the rugged area with the interior of Lebanon, local sources said.
Mohammad Yehia, a parliamentarian representing the mostly Sunni region, said the attack late on Saturday was part of Israeli's objective of "cutting off Lebanese areas from each other, and from the outside [world]". Historically, Akkar has been part of a lawless arc comprising northern and eastern Lebanese areas on the border with Syria, where smuggling of drugs, weapons and other contraband has been rife.
Mr Yehia called for "holding on to national unity". Sectarian tensions in Lebanon have risen since Hezbollah, a Shiite armed group supported by Iran that has members in parliament but operates outside the control of state authorities, started attacks on northern Israel in October last year. The Hezbollah-Israel war, the second since 2006, started a day after Hamas, another militant group supported by Iran, killed 1,200 people in an incursion into south Israel from Gaza on October 7. Israel retaliated with a military offensive in Gaza that is now in its 13th month.
Israel has carried out extensive air strikes in the Bekaa Valley, which is adjacent to Akkar, since launching an all-out offensive against Hezbollah in later September, after a year of limited exchanges across Lebanon's southern border.
Earlier that month, Israel reportedly sent its special forces into Syria to destroy an Iranian-controlled weapons development facility in Masyaf, a city in Hama province. The raid ushered in a concerted campaign to cut off Hezbollah weapon deliveries from Iran, focused on areas along the border between Lebanon and central Syria. Among the targets has been the Syrian city of Qusayr and its countryside, a Hezbollah stronghold near Akroum.
The Qusayr area has increasingly served as a supply route since Hezbollah captured the city from rebels fighting the Syrian army and allied pro-Iranian militia in 2013, security officials in the Middle East said. Hezbollah poured militiamen and hardware into Syria shortly after the 2011 revolt against President Bashar Al Assad.
During the course of the ensuing civil war, Hezbollah, along with Iraqi militias, became the enforcers of an Iranian-controlled corridor running across Syria from Iraq to Lebanon. Israel has struck targets in the corridor hundreds of times in the last decade.
The attack on Akroum was followed overnight by an Israeli strike on the Jusiya border crossing south of Qusayr, Telegram groups run by loyalists of Mr Al Assad said, without mentioning any casualties.
On Thursday, Israeli war planes struck a road and workshops in Qusayr, residents said on WhatsApp groups. Syrian media quoted a military official as saying Israel targeted residential buildings.
Precision missiles and drones, developed and assembled at Iranian-run sites in central Syria, have been flowing across the border to Hezbollah, Syrian opposition sources said, adding that Iraqi militias are involved in delivering the parts from Iran.
Iran has launched what it describes as a multi-front war by its proxies against Israel, in response to the war in Gaza. But Hezbollah has said in the recent weeks that it would accept a ceasefire with Israel even if the Gaza war continues, in a reversal of its previous stance.
The so-called Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a collection of Iran-backed armed groups, said it had launched drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied area of the Golan Heights and on the Jordan Valley on the weekend. There were no reports of casualties, or any confirmation that the drones had reached their targets. They would need to pass over Jordan to do so.
In the past several weeks, Jordanian authorities have reported instances of drones falling in various areas of the country, warning people to stay away from the objects and to report any new occurrences. But officials have not said whether the drones were brought down by air defences, or who launched them.
Jordanian troops on Sunday foiled attempts by "several groups of smugglers" to infiltrate the kingdom's northern border with Syria, according to a military official quoted by state media. One smuggler was killed when the army engaged with the infiltrators at dawn, he said, without giving details.
Jordan has accused the Syrian military and its Iran-aligned militia allies of complicity in the cross border drug trafficking, especially of the amphetamine Captagon, which Arab security officials says constitutes a major source of financing for Tehran's allies in Syria and Lebanon. Mr Al Assad has denied that any official Syrian involvement.
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Price, base: Dh399,999
Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 707hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 875Nm @ 4,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 16.8L / 100km (estimate)
Points classification after Stage 4
1. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 124
2. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 81
3. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 66
4. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 63
5. Alexander Kristoff (Norway / Katusha) 43
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
The specs
Price, base: Dh228,000 / Dh232,000 (est)
Engine: 5.7-litre Hemi V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 552Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.5L / 100km
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
