As rebels capture territory in northern and western Syria, including the cities of Aleppo and Hama, other conflicts are playing out in the east.
The region, stretching from the central desert to the far reaches of the border with Iraq, is home to Syrian government troops, Iran-backed militants and pockets of ISIS fighters and Kurdish militias backed by the US. The groups have fought against each other in recent days, as the lightning advance of rebels in the west of the country remains in the spotlight.
"ISIS disappeared in the past week, but today they started moving in the Syrian desert. In a limited way, they put up their checkpoints there and were moving around in the desert with greater ease," Mr Mohammed Hassan, a Syrian analyst from Deir Ezzor, told The National.
ISIS members were on the move in Al Kum area, south of the city of Raqqa, he added. Within a few hours, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said it had taken “comprehensive and controlled measures” to counter ISIS threats and “counter any attempt by ISIS to expand into our areas". The SDF controls territory to the north of where ISIS has operated.
Although the terrorist group was defeated in Syria in 2017, it has remained active in small pockets of central Syria. ISIS now appears to be taking advantage of the rebel advance across the country, which has forced the Syrian army and its Iran-backed allies to leave cities including Hama.
"What helped ISIS advance in this period is that the Syrian regime started to move its forces located in bases in the Syrian desert towards cities around Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, and from there it needs to move reinforcements to Homs and Damascus, in an attempt to prevent any attack from the Syrian opposition," Mr Hassan said.
The US-backed SDF has also seized the opportunity to expand its sphere of control. On Tuesday, the group’s Deir Ezzor Military Council said it had taken control of seven villages on the eastern bank of the Euphrates that had been under the control of government forces and allied Iran-backed militants since the collapse of ISIS.
“This has been a long-time objective of the SDF and, with the significant changes of control elsewhere in Syria and the general confusion among regime-aligned forces, they are seizing the opportunity,” Broderick McDonald, an associate fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King's College London, told The National.
The SDF is under pressure, though. The force is led by the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish group linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. The YPG and PKK are considered terrorist organisations by Turkey.
In an operation called “Freedom Dawn", Turkish-backed fighters have advanced to areas west of Lake Assad on the Euphrates. Tens of thousands of people are reported to have fled the areas towards Kurdish-held territory farther east, while Turkish-backed groups have filmed people welcoming them.
The rebels may attempt to take control of areas on the other side of the river, said a senior Syrian opposition politician, adding that Kurdish forces needed to cut ties with the PKK.
“As for the other areas where there is SDF, like Manbij and the east of the Euphrates, we believe they will face great pressure there,” Ahmed Touma, head of the Syrian opposition delegation at peace talks held between Turkey, Russia and Iran, told The National.
“We said to them, time and time again, that our hand is extended for peace, but on the condition that you sever your association with Qandil,” he added, referring to the PKK base in the mountains of northern Iraq.
Farther east, the SDF’s ability to hold territory depends on policy changes that may occur when US president-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. If he decides to withdraw US troops from Syria, that would weaken the SDF, making it easier for Turkish-backed fighters to advance into SDF territory, or force it into a compromise.
“The SDF is seeking to cement its control over remaining pockets in Deir Ezzor before widely expected changes in policy from the incoming Trump administration that could see the withdrawal of all or most US forces in Syria,” Mr McDonald said. “More broadly, each actor in Syria is now actively seeking to consolidate territory that will put them in a stronger position before any future political negotiations.”
Iran-backed militants also have a significant presence in eastern Syria around Deir Ezzor, where they helped to secure control of the western bank of the Euphrates for President Bashar Al Assad's government, after the collapse of ISIS. About 900 US troops remain in Syria as part of anti-ISIS operations, but they also carry out what the US describes as self-defence strikes against Iran-backed militants.
On Tuesday, US Central Command forces said it destroyed rocket launchers, vehicles and mortars after militants fired towards American forces at a base in eastern Syria. Pentagon spokesman Maj Gen Pat Ryder said it was not clear who used the weapons, but Iran-backed groups and Syrian government forces are known to be in the area.
Iranian-backed forces, spread across other parts of government-held territory, as well as eastern Syria, have not yet moved en masse to prevent the government from losing territory to the rebels in the north and west. Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah and parts of the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces, are widely reported to use Syria as a conduit for weapons, supplies and fighters, especially in near the border with Iraq.
Israel has sought to combat that by carrying out dozens of strikes, although it rarely acknowledges them. The attacks, especially in the past year, have limited the Iran-backed groups’ ability to move around Syria, including to support government troops.
“There are significant Iranian-backed forces in eastern Syria, but so far the response from Iran has been slow,” said Mr McDonald. “This is likely to change as Mr Al Assad is now in a very dangerous situation, but it did not come fast enough for the regime and Iran to stop the rebels from capturing Aleppo and Hama.”
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
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BIRD%20BOX%20BARCELONA
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The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
The years Ramadan fell in May
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
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The years Ramadan fell in May
More on animal trafficking
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Results
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
The five pillars of Islam
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
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The%20specs
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
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Jawan
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More coverage from the Future Forum
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
The years Ramadan fell in May
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
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
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
