From Lebanon it looked like a meteor shower puncturing the night sky on Saturday as ballistic missiles from Iran approached their final destination in neighbouring Israel.
The outbreak of war between Iran and Israel was watched in person and on television as Lebanese enjoyed their weekend, at weddings, at home, in restaurants. One video showed a saxophonist playing at an establishment overlooking a bay as people took videos on their phones of the projectiles streaking high up in the distance.
A resident of Qlayaa, a southern village only 2km from the Israeli border, told The National that while they had seen such sights before they had never witnessed “traffic like this”. One video they shared showed at least 20 projectiles streaking overhead towards Israel.
Iran launches missile barrage against Israel
For now, Lebanon has not been dragged in, at least directly, but considerable discomfort remains - not least when Israel continues to demolish south Lebanon and the sound of Israeli drones overhead remains ever-present.
While the war has affected flights in and out – President Joseph Aoun and First Lady Nehmat Aoun had to cut short a trip to the Vatican to meet the Pope – the impact otherwise has been minimal.
After returning, the President convened a meeting of his top security commanders and fielded calls from his French and Cypriot counterparts Emmanuel Macron and Nikos Christodoulides.
Security sources reiterated on Saturday that Hezbollah – once Iran's most powerful proxy – would remain on the sidelines. On Sunday, there was no evidence of that changing and observers say the Lebanese armed group and political party is in no position to support its patron.
Severely weakened by Israel's war on Lebanon last year, and shackled by international and internal pressure, Hezbollah has been quiet since the events of Friday morning.
But there is still a lingering unease, partly because the Israel-Iran conflict is so close and also because the threat from Israel continues to linger over Lebanon.
“We don't know what will happen in the next days. We are not involved for now, God willing we will not be involved any more – in anything,” said Beirut resident Hassan Jeishi. People in Lebanon need no reminder of the carnage and destruction Israel can inflict.
Despite a Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire last November, Israeli attacks on south Lebanon and occasionally elsewhere, including the capital, continue and its troops still occupy five areas of along the border and shows no signs of leaving.
Mr Jeishi, who spoke still of an underlying fear given the precariousness of the situation, regularly goes back to the area in south Lebanon where he grew up that was devastated by Israeli attacks last year.
Despite Israel's attentions being focused on Iran, an Israeli drone carried out a strike on the south Lebanese town of Beit Lif on Saturday, wounding seven people, while Israeli machine gunfire was heard near the border town of Rmeich on Sunday – highlighting the unstable nature of the situation.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
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Results
International 4, United States 1
Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods (US) beat Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann (International) 4 and 3.
Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im (International) beat Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (US) 2 up.
Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An (International) beat Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau (US) 2 and 1.
Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan (International) beat Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed (US) 1 up.
Abraham Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen (International) beat Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland (US) 4 and 3.
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
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
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5
