NINEWAH PROVINCE, IRAQ // An Islamic insurgent group has promised to continue attacks on American forces despite this summer's pullback of troops from cities, a move that could soon prompt the return of US combat soldiers to the streets of Mosul.
Salahaddin Ayyoub, an official from the Army of Naqishbandi, warned that levels of violence in key disputed areas, including Mosul and Kirkuk in northern Iraq, were also likely to rise again, as Arabs and Kurds continue their struggle for control.
"The American pull-out has not ended the war, it has just moved it into a new phase," he said. "We do not consider the shift of American forces to be anything more than an attempt to stop them being killed - they wish to put Iraqi soldiers into harm's way while they retreat into their bases.
"We will adjust our tactics so that the Americans cannot hide, we will continue to target them wherever they are and we have the weapons to do so."
The Naqishbandi Army, which fights under the banner of "The Supreme Leadership for Jihad and Liberation", an umbrella organisation that includes former members of Saddam Hussein's regime, has relied heavily on roadside bombs, designed to destroy armoured vehicles in military convoys.
With US troops reducing their on-street presence and spending more time in heavily fortified bases, insurgent groups expect such attacks to become less effective. Instead, Mr Ayyoub said, they will have to rely on more complicated methods such as missiles and rockets.
"Our strategy is to target the Americans wherever they go and their bases are not far from the cities," he said. "We have prepared many rockets for the coming days and months. Over the years we have had a shortage of some weapons but in this new era we have rockets that can hit them."
With the war in Iraq now into its sixth year, American casualties have risen to more than 4,300 dead with tens of thousands more wounded, many of them seriously. While US soldiers have been killed since the pullback from cities, there is no sign that casualties are resulting from the kind of missile attacks that the Naqishbandi Army claims to be conducting.
However, the main US camp in Mosul, Forward Operating Base Marez, has been hit by regular rocket attacks since the American pullback on June 30. US troops on the base say the strikes, which have not yet caused any fatalities, prove that local Iraqi forces are not up to the job of keeping security in the restless city without Americans on the streets.
A strict curfew currently means US combat forces are largely confined to camp, moving only at night. Some American officers and troops in Mosul are, though, pushing for a resumption of combat patrols, according to Iraqis working closely with them, arguing it is essential for self-defence. The Status of Forces Agreement (SoFA) between Baghdad and Washington, which requires US troops be moved out of urban areas, contains self-defence clauses that could be used by the US to legally justify a return to street patrols.
Insurgent attacks are a regular occurrence in Iraq, with a series of recent deadly bombings in Baghdad and other cities apparently designed to reignite the sectarian civil war that brought the country to its knees by 2007. General levels of violence have dropped since then but remain high and incidents have even spread to areas once considered calm, such as Hilla, south of Baghdad.
Last month 275 people were officially registered as suffering violent deaths in Iraq. The total number of civilian casualties since the US-led invasion of 2003 has never been formally counted, although some estimates say more than half a million Iraqis died because of the war.
The Naqishbandi Army and their allies claim not to be involved in any incidents that target civilians, and Mr Ayyoub denied that his group played any role in sectarian attacks.
"We consider it to be against Islam to kill Iraqis or to shed Iraqi blood," he said. "We do not attack Iraqi soldiers or police, unless they attack us or unless they are fighting alongside American troops."
Mr Ayyoub spoke to The National on condition that his location at the time of the interview not be disclosed. He had with him a computer printout showing an aerial view of the US base in Salahaddin province, marked "secret". Although its authenticity could not be verified, it appeared to be of the kind commonly seen in American military operations rooms.
"We have such plans to help us target our attacks," he said. "We have people working inside American bases who help us and most things are for sale. We buy some of our information from the American soldiers themselves."
According to Mr Ayyoub, the Naqishbandi Army has forces across Iraq, including Mosul and Kirkuk, major cities that are the subject of an increasingly bitter and dangerous dispute between Iraq's Kurds and Arabs, a struggle for influence complicated by the continued attacks of al Qa'eda inspired groups. The Naqishbandi Army and other insurgent cells within the Supreme Command for Jihad and Liberation, say they oppose al Qa'eda every bit as much as they oppose the US occupation and the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki.
"There will be more violence in Mosul and Kirkuk because there are too many people with an interest in violence there," Mr Ayyoub said.
"The Kurds like the violence because it gives them a justification to have their own militia and to keep their military strength. The Iraqi government likes the violence because it gives them an excuse to send up their army to take the cities away from the Kurds.
"Whenever there is an attack against civilians in Kirkuk or Mosul, we believe it is the work of the Kurds or the Iraqi government.
"They help al Qa'eda make these attacks because it serves their purposes."
In the course of the Iraq war and subsequent insurgency, Mr Ayyoub admitted his group had suffered setbacks. Many fighters, supporters and sympathisers had been killed or imprisoned, he said, although he refused to give more precise details.
Although more Iraqi groups and former rejectionists have now decided to be a part of the political process, Mr Ayyoub said the Naqishbandi Army would not negotiate with US forces, or with the Iraqi government.
"We consider all the Iraqi government to be traitors," he said. "Without the Americans, they would not be able to keep their positions. And we are not afraid of the American forces.
"Our main principle is to obey our religious orders and we believe it is our religious duty to defend the country against occupation. We had been worshipping God peacefully in our mosques before the invasion. After it we picked up our weapons to fight. We fight under the banner of 'There is no God but God'.
"We will continue to fight until all of the Americans soldiers have left Iraq."
The agreement between Baghdad and Washington calls for US forces to withdraw completely from Iraq by the end of 2011.
In a recent visit to the US, however, the Iraqi prime minister suggested some US military trainers would have to remain in the country after that date. Iraq is also likely to be dependent on the US military for its air power long after the withdrawal deadline.
psands@thenational.ae
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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WTL%20SCHEDULE
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How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
The%20specs
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
Ads on social media can 'normalise' drugs
A UK report on youth social media habits commissioned by advocacy group Volteface found a quarter of young people were exposed to illegal drug dealers on social media.
The poll of 2,006 people aged 16-24 assessed their exposure to drug dealers online in a nationally representative survey.
Of those admitting to seeing drugs for sale online, 56 per cent saw them advertised on Snapchat, 55 per cent on Instagram and 47 per cent on Facebook.
Cannabis was the drug most pushed by online dealers, with 63 per cent of survey respondents claiming to have seen adverts on social media for the drug, followed by cocaine (26 per cent) and MDMA/ecstasy, with 24 per cent of people.
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.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 55')
Man of the Match Allan (Everton)
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
