Two years after the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, the diminishing influence of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is evident in this week’s failed drone attacks against US forces in Iraq.
In one incident, two explosive-laden drones were shot down by American C-RAM air defences in an attempted attack on the Ain Al Asad airbase, which hosts US forces to the west of Baghdad. The attack came after the second anniversary of Suleimani’s demise was marked on January 3 by “suicide drones” with “Suleimani’s revenge” written on their wings, which were intercepted and destroyed over Baghdad.
Even though both attacks were successfully foiled by US forces, bases hosting them in Iraq and Syria continued to come under fire, with military centres in Iraq’s western Anbar province and the capital Baghdad being hit by Katyusha rockets. In Syria, eight rounds of indirect fire landed inside a base used by members of the US-led coalition. No casualties have been reported in any of the attacks.
While responsibility for some of the attacks has been claimed by a previously unknown group called Qassem Al Jabarayn, US officials believe Iran-backed militias linked to the Revolutionary Guard are the most likely culprits.
Suleimani was killed in a US drone strike authorised by former US President Donald Trump in January 2020, together with Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces.
The Iranian commander headed the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, which has responsibility for the organisation’s overseas operations and was a key ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have vowed to avenge his death, as well as calling for the removal of all US forces from Iraq and Syria.
The difficulties being experienced by Iran’s allies throughout the region should certainly be a consideration for western negotiators
The US currently has around 900 troops based in Syria and another 2,500 in Iraq, and while the US-led coalition formally ended its combat mission supporting Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS last month, they are maintaining their presence to assist with anti-ISIS military operations.
But attempts by the IRGC and its allies in the region to increase pressure on US forces to end their presence are making little headway, a failing that is attributed to the leadership vacuum that has been created since Suleimani’s assassination.
A charismatic figure who had built up an extensive network of contacts throughout the Middle East, for decades Suleimani played a central role in expanding Iran’s influence throughout the region. He was at the forefront of Iran’s efforts to consolidate its grip over the restless Shiite population in neighbouring Iraq following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. And his support for the Assad regime in the Syrian conflict proved critical to keeping the regime in power, especially through his efforts to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide military support.
His killing therefore constituted a major setback for Iran, one that – to judge by the difficulties Tehran is currently experiencing with managing its regional allies – is still being keenly felt within the IRGC.
While Suleimani was quickly replaced by Esmail Qaani as head of the Quds Force, the organisation is no longer regarded as a key component in the IRGC structure and exercises considerably less influence, both at home and abroad, than it did under Suleimani’s command.
This has led to a significant decline in the standing of some of Iran’s key allies in the region, such as Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In Iraq, his death has been blamed for the deepening discord among Shiite militias, as well as the embarrassing setback that Iran-backed political groups suffered in last October’s general election, when they lost most of their seats.
Suleimani’s absence has also been keenly felt in Lebanon, where Hezbollah, which continues to exercise significant influence over the country’s political system, is increasingly being blamed for causing the dire economic crisis.
Nor are Iran's allies faring much better in neighbouring Syria, where Israel has recently intensified its attacks on Iranian-backed assets, with the recent Israeli air strike against the Syrian port of Latakia, sparking a fire that lit up the Mediterranean seafront, said to have been targeting arms deliveries from Iran.
The difficulties being experienced by Iran’s allies throughout the region should certainly be a consideration for western negotiators involved in the current round of talks on Iran’s nuclear programme, as they attempt to strike a new deal.
While US officials said earlier this week that modest progress had been made in the talks, western diplomats involved in the negotiations paint a very different picture, claiming that, far from being serious about striking a deal, the Iranians are instead indulging in delaying tactics.
To date, Iran’s primary demand in the negotiations, which are attempting to revive the controversial 2015 nuclear deal, has been to call for lifting the punitive economic sanctions that were implemented as part of the former Trump administration’s policy of applying “maximum pressure” on the regime. But instead of focusing on key issues, such as Iran’s nuclear enrichment, Iran has been focusing on relatively minor issues, such as whether UN inspectors can have surveillance cameras operating at key sites.
This has led to mounting suspicions among western intelligence officials that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is simply playing for time while work continues on Iran’s enrichment activities, which have now moved far beyond the levels agreed in the original 2015 agreement.
But with Iran clearly struggling to maintain its regional network of alliances in the aftermath of Suleimani’s killing, the West should realise that Tehran is approaching the negotiations from a position of weakness, not strength, and not allow Iranian negotiators to avoid making tough concessions on their nuclear activities.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $49,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner El Patriota, Vagner Leal, Antonio Cintra
7.40pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,000m
Winner Ya Hayati, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Althiqa, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Soft Whisper, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Bedouin’s Story, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
More from Neighbourhood Watch
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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
Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Christopher%20McQuarrie%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tom%20Cruise%2C%20Hayley%20Atwell%2C%20Pom%20Klementieff%2C%20Simon%20Pegg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
