A year ago on January 8, Iran launched Operation Martyr Suleimani, firing a salvo of ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq.
The attacks were in revenge for the death of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, killed in a US drone strike on January 3 near Baghdad airport, after escalating violence between Iran-backed Iraqi militias and US forces.
The ballistic missile attacks were unprecedented, almost sparking a regional war – until that point, Iran had not directly attacked US forces, instead relying on allied Iraqi militias.
Eleven missiles smashed into the Iraqi-American base at Al Asad, blasting aircraft hangers to smithereens and cutting off communications to US drones, nearly causing the multi-million dollar aircraft to crash.
But after a warning was conveyed to the Iraqi government that the attack would take place, soldiers had hours to evacuate aircraft and personnel.
As missiles were launched, a military satellite system known as the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) detected the missiles in flight.
More than 100 US personnel sheltering in Saddam-era concrete bunkers suffered what medics call “traumatic brain injury” or TBI, which President Donald Trump later dismissed as “headaches.”
Many of the soldiers were taken to a military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, for specialist care.
The explosive force of the impacts was enough to buckle reinforced bunker doors.
Traumatic brain injury
“TBI has been called the ‘signature wound’ of the War on Terror,” according to Warner Anderson, former associate dean of the US Joint Special Operations Medical Training Centre.
A veteran of the Iraq war and former director of international health at the US Department of Defence, Dr Anderson says TBI rose to prominence as the US fought long insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Until the Al Asad attacks, those conflicts were characterised by roadside bombings of US and allied vehicles.
Even if armour protected infantry from visible injury, soldiers caught in roadside bombings were subjected to tremendous kinetic forces, described by one veteran as like being kicked by a giant horse.
“The US military's understanding of the injury grew with experience, and was also somewhat informed by the National Football League's struggles to come to grips with chronic traumatic encephalopathy,” says Dr Warner, referring to the growing understanding that contact sports can accumulate damage to the brain.
Dr Warner says the news that scores of American soldiers were quickly diagnosed with TBI after Al Asad shows how far understanding of the condition has come.
“At the time of entry into the Gulf War in 1991, TBI was not considered a ‘real’ wound, and was not eligible for the Purple Heart, the ‘wound badge'," he says.
“This was changed as it became better appreciated that a major concussion, or serial minor concussions, can cause lasting disability and even premature death – or dementia,” he says.
By January 30, 64 US servicemen had been diagnosed with TBI from the Al Asad attack, more than half of whom managed to return to duty within the month. Sixty were awarded “Purple Hearts,” according to the Pentagon.
But because of the nature of TBI, it is feared that many of the injured personnel could suffer neurological problems for years.
“Thick walls would certainly dampen the blast effects,” says Dr Warner, referring to the sturdy bunkers at Al Asad.
“On the other hand, a blast wave that enters a bunker-like space would ‘echo’ from one wall to another, with repeated, almost instantaneous overpressure effects.”
For soldiers unlucky enough to be close enough to explosive “overpressure”, the kinetic force can be powerful enough to fracture a human skull – although in such cases the soldiers exposed may lack sufficient overhead protection such as a sturdy bunker roof.
Surprising accuracy
The Al Asad attacks also stunned observers who believed the US could be losing its qualitative military edge.
"The accuracy revolution is real and no longer a monopoly of the United States. This has huge implications for modern conflict," said Vipin Narang of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in remarks to The Economist.
Mark Pyruz, an expert on Iranian political and military issues who runs the website Intel on Iran, disagrees. He believes the attack’s accuracy should not have been a shock.
“On a number of occasions the Iranians have employed their ballistic missile precision strike capability– each time as a retaliatory action,” he says.
“Iran's missile attack against Kurdish rebels at Koya in Iraq in September 2018 left no doubt the Iranians had achieved an effective precision strike capability, as independently published images confirmed impact accuracy and destructive result,” he says.
According to Mr Pyruz, while Iran may have displayed improved capability in the Koya and Al Asad attacks, Tehran was nonetheless wary of triggering a powerful US response in the latter instance.
He compares Al Asad to a prior missile attack launched by Saddam Hussein on US forces during the 1991 Gulf War, when Saddam’s regime was already being pounded by US airpower.
Under fierce bombardment, Saddam had nothing to lose, unlike Iran, which may have been avoiding US casualties by forewarning of the attack.
“Al Asad was a different experience to the 1991 Iraqi Scud strike on US Army barracks at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where the time between the sounded alarm and impact was around 13 minutes. The result then was 28 soldiers dead, 110 hospitalised and 150 experiencing minor physical injuries or subsequent mental health problems,” he says.
“But for the 2020 Iranian missile strikes, according to a report released by Afcent [US Air Forces Central], our US service members had hours to react. Casualties in this instance were limited to 110 US military personnel experiencing TBI.”
“Circumstance and Iranian intent may have been factors for this unusual notification and relatively lengthy preparatory time,” Mr Pyruz said, suggesting Iran was wary of provoking a wider conflict.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
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
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Golden Shoe top five (as of March 1):
Harry Kane, Tottenham, Premier League, 24 goals, 48 points
Edinson Cavani, PSG, Ligue 1, 24 goals, 48 points
Ciro Immobile, Lazio, Serie A, 23 goals, 46 points
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League, 23 goals, 46 points
Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga, 22 goals, 44 points
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Tour de France 2017: Stage 5
Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km
It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.
Blue%20Beetle
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TOP 5 DRIVERS 2019
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 10 wins 387 points
2 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 4 wins, 314 points
3 Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 3 wins, 260 points
4 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2 wins, 249 points
5 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1 win, 230 points
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
WIDE%20VIEW
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
The years Ramadan fell in May
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
The years Ramadan fell in May
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Date: Sunday, November 25
Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)
Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)
