The US continues to be on alert for any attack against Israel by Iran or one of its proxy groups, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, adding that it remains prepared to defend its ally and American assets.
Iran has vowed to retaliate after a series of assassinations – blamed on Israel – of Hezbollah and Hamas figures in the region, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
“Iran has made those threats and has said that they intend to retaliate and so we have to take that very seriously,” Pentagon spokesman Maj Gen Pat Ryder said during a briefing.
“And so we will continue to remain postured, and we are well postured to be able to support the defences of Israel as well as protect our own forces.”
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held two calls with Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant at the weekend, in which he “underscored the United States' ironclad resolve to support Israel's defence against threats from Iran and its regional partners and proxies”.
On Sunday, Israel struck Hezbollah in southern Lebanon with about 100 fighter jets in what it called “preventive strikes” against the Iran-backed group. Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel.
At least three people were killed in Lebanon and one in Israel in one of the biggest clashes in months of cross-border warfare.
For weeks, Hezbollah has said that it would retaliate against Israel over the killing of senior commander Fouad Shukr in late July.
The prospect of a widened Middle East war comes after 10 months of an Israeli military campaign in Gaza and amid stalled mediated efforts to end it.
The war in Gaza and its high death toll – with more than 40,400 Palestinians killed, according to local health authorities – have increased tension and led to armed groups launching attacks on Israel and US assets in the region.
The war started after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people on October 7.
Maj Gen Ryder said that the US is focused on ensuring that the conflict remains “contained to Gaza” and does not believe that the latest escalation will lead to a full-on war in the Middle East.
“You have seen the cross-border strikes between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah since October 8,” he said.
“What you saw over the weekend, of course, was a much larger scale than what we've seen previously, but it is, in our view, not a wider regional conflict at this stage.
"And so we're going to continue to stay very focused on de-escalation of tensions in the region and preventing it from becoming a wider regional war.”
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby earlier appeared on Israeli TV, during which he repeated US warnings to Iran not to escalate the situation and said that “we are going to be prepared to defend Israel if it comes to that”.
Arsenal's pre-season fixtures
Thursday Beat Sydney 2-0 in Sydney
Saturday v Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney
Wednesday v Bayern Munich in Shanghai
July 22 v Chelsea in Beijing
July 29 v Benfica in London
July 30 v Sevilla in London
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
