It is a bitter irony that Iraq’s Kurdistan region – the most stable part of the country – was among the Iraqi and Syrian territories hit by Iranian forces in Monday night’s ballistic missile attacks that claimed at least five civilian lives. This centre of relative stability has been struck in attacks before and it will endure, but such a worrying escalation with the targeting of civilian homes with ballistic missiles, at a time of extreme regional volatility poses a serious question: what can be done to stop it?
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Kurdistan region capital of Erbil and in northern Syria. The Iranians claimed targets included a base hosting US military personnel and a “Mossad headquarters”; the IRGC said it was aiming for ISIS and other militant groups in Syria, according to comments carried by state media. The Iranian government has been searching for a way to respond to the Israeli assassinations of IRGC, Hamas and Hezbollah figures in addition to the ISIS attack in Kerman that killed nearly 100 people close to the tomb of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.
However, just as Israel’s campaign of cross-border strikes and assassinations are particularly reckless at a time when the region teeters on the brink of wider conflict, the same is true of the IRGC’s violent agenda. American forces have contributed to this volatile mix as well, with drone strikes on targets across the region seeding anger in many Arab populations.
It is in no one’s interests for further escalation to take place, and although those who plan and execute such strikes may think they are taking part in a clinical, retaliatory war, the risk is that their operations provoke a reaction that cannot be contained. An example of this is Gaza, where Hamas’s October 7 attacks sparked a chain reaction that is still playing out, with incredible suffering of Gazans, in addition to the Red Sea where Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have started a full-blown international crisis with their attacks on shipping. Civilians are dying and bearing the brunt of all these attacks.
Regional governments and organisations, as well as the wider international community, seem largely unable to contain this deadly game of cat and mouse, and must do better. Although the issue of Palestine is somewhat tangential to this shadowy conflict involving Israel, Iran, its proxies and extremist militants, ending the current Israeli operation in Gaza – thereby removing the issue as a driver of conflict – would be a welcome first step. China’s recent proposal to convene an international peace conference – and its support for a two-state solution – is an intervention worth examining given the paucity of solutions coming from the international community.
But as governments, militants and proxies continue to use Iraq and Syria, as well as long-suffering Lebanon and Yemen, as a chessboard upon which to pursue regional ambitions and vendettas, the number of near misses, such as that seen in Iraq and Syria on Monday night, continue to grow. The danger posed by supposedly surgical strikes is that they can end up killing the patient.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELaura%20Terruso%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERobert%20De%20Niro%2C%20Sebastian%20Maniscalco%2C%20Kim%20Cattrall%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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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CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
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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
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
