Syrian authorities arrested an alleged senior ISIS commander for planning a foiled attack targeting Sayyeda Zeinab – a prominent Shiite shrine near Damascus – state media reported on Saturday.
Authorities arrested “Abu Al Hareth Al Iraqi, commander in the Daesh organisation”, said state news agency Sana, quoting an unidentified intelligence official and using the Arabic acronym for the group.
He was “behind the planning of a number of operations”, Sana reported, adding that “the cell that was thwarted in its plan to attack the Sayyida Zeinab shrine” was working under his direction.
In January, Syria's Intelligence Directorate foiled an attempt by ISIS to bomb the shrine. It said members of an ISIS cell were arrested before they could carry out an attack on the shrine, Syria's most visited Shiite pilgrimage site.
The Interior Ministry posted pictures of four men it identified as members of the cell who were arrested in the countryside outside the capital.
It published images of equipment allegedly seized from the suspects, including smartphones, two rifles, what appeared to be three explosive devices and several hand grenades.
It was the first time the new authorities in Damascus said they foiled an ISIS attack.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the suspect arrested is an Iraqi national who was “one of the second-tier commanders” in the militant group, spending recent years in the Badia desert.
The shrine used to be under the protection of Iran-backed guards who fled in December after rebels toppled the regime of former president Bashar Al Assad.
Shiite shrines have been frequent targets of attacks by ISIS, both in Syria and neighbouring Iraq. The Sunni extremist group claimed a bombing that killed at least six people near the Sayyeda Zeinab shrine in July 2023.
ISIS seized large areas of Syrian and Iraqi territory in the early years of the civil war, declaring a cross-border “caliphate” in 2014.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
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