The capital of ISIL’s self-declared caliphate could soon fall, Abdulrahman Al Rashed wrote in Asharq Al Awsat. “After countless indescribable atrocities committed against its people, finally, Raqqa is on the cusp of being liberated from ISIL.”
The Syrian city has become synonymous with terror since it became a stronghold for extremists who came from all over the world. Under the banner of ISIL, they have practised the most hideous types of crimes against the local population and promoted their image as mass murderers who throw people off rooftops and brag about raping schoolgirls, he wrote.
“Oil was the main reason for ISIL to choose Raqqa as their stronghold. Oil could fund the terrorist organisation’s scheme to form a state.
“And thus, they sold oil indiscriminately to whoever came asking for it, and ultimately reconciled with Al Assad’s regime in Damascus, who was the primary customer after all.”
By buying oil from ISIL, the Assad regime was able to use the extremist group as its own army, targeting the Free Syrian Army and other opposition forces.
From a US perspective, the battle in Raqqa may be the most significant military and political achievement for the Obama administration since the Syrian war began five years ago.
The White House is looking for a resounding victory, especially in light of widespread criticism of its submissive stance on the Syrian crisis. What better way to achieve it than the liberation of ISIL’s capital?
“Raqqa’s liberation from ISIL would be highly significant because it would mark the destruction of the caliphate itself and not only its capital city,” he added.
“It dissolves the idea of a capital city that implies that the Islamic State indeed exists, although it is merely a virtual state created on computer keyboards.”
Should coalition forces manage to liberate the town and throw out thousands of ISIL fighters, it would be a hard blow to the organisation’s profile and propaganda.
The liberation of Raqqa was also addressed by Tariq Alhomayed, the former editor-in-chief of Asharq Al Awsat. wrote in the London-based daily.
He argued that regions under ISIL’s control in Syria and Iraq are apprehensive of liberation at the hands of “regime” forces, fearing they will face a worse evil. In fact, these areas were once under Al Qaeda’s control and were liberated, only to then fall under ISIL’s control.
“This doesn’t mean that the inhabitants of these ISIL-occupied areas are extremists or that they tolerate extremism – they are simply scared of the violence of supposed legitimate forces, that are in fact Iranian militias the likes of Hizbollah in Syria and other Iranian and Afghan mercenaries in Iraq,” he wrote.
Fallujah in Iraq is also under siege, awaiting liberation from ISIL. It was previously liberated from Al Qaeda.
However he contended that it is unreasonable to argue that Fallujah is an extremist area and therefore it is easier for extremist groups to control it.
In reality, the problem in Iraq and in Syria lies in the approach itself. So long as serious political processes are absent and if sectarianism is rampant, extremists will find it easy to roll out their schemes and the Assad-Iranian killing machine will not be stopped in Syria, he added.
If extremism exists in areas such as Fallujah, Anbar and Raqqa, it is mainly because no real solutions have been put forward. Recurrent relapses will always happen so long as sectarian extremism exists and so long as Iran is allowed to interfere. All other attempts at solutions are mere cosmetic procedures that don’t solve the real issue.
“People in occupied areas are made to choose between death from sectarianism and death from extremism,” he added.
“Both lead to despair and apprehension from the alleged legitimate power, mainly when the power is a fragile state that dons sectarian colours,” he concluded.
Translated by Racha Makarem
RMakarem@thenational.ae
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
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Brief scores:
Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first
Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)
Watson 42; Munaf 3-20
Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)
Shahzad 74 not out
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The%20specs
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SPECS
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SPECS
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Read more about the coronavirus
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
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)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Company%20Profile
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
