US officials and regional allies were on Thursday considering a response to an Iranian missile strike that brought down a US Navy drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran shot down the US drone above the shipping lanes leading to Hormuz, just hours after Tehran’s Houthi proxies in Yemen conducted a cross-border attack on a desalination plant in Saudi Arabia.
Attacks on water supply constitute an act of war under international law.
Adel Al Jubeir, the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, warned that a response was being considered over Iran’s actions, and Tehran would not be allowed to close the vital transit corridor.
“We are consulting and looking at various options," Mr Al Jubeir said. "There will be a price they have to pay.
"What we have seen in the past few months is an increase in Iran's mischievous behaviour. Freedom of navigation is essential to the global economy.
"The idea of closing the Strait of Hormuz is going to generate a very, very strong reaction. I think the situation is very grave because of the aggressive behaviour of Iran.
“When you interfere with international shipping it has an impact on the supply of energy and it has an impact on the price of oil which has an impact on the world economy. It essentially affects almost every person on the globe.”
President Donald Trump tweeted that Iran “had made a very big mistake” early Thursday as advisers huddled over how the US could intervene to stop the attacks.
They have included sabotage of oil tankers in the area, missile strikes from Yemen and rockets aimed at Iraq.
Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator close to Mr Trump, said the president believed the situation was “getting into a bad space” but was he determined not to make a deal with Iran just to ease tension.
A meeting at the White House on Thursday included National Security Adviser John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, departing acting defence secretary Patrick Shanahan and his successor Mark Esper, and US Joint Chief of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford.
Mr Trump then met Mr Pompeo, Mr Shanahan and Mr Bolton in the White House.
Mr Bolton was travelling to Israel to discuss current escalation, AFP reported. Congress leaders were also briefed on the escalation this morning.
The US administration is studying options to respond to the drone attack, including attacks on Iranian surface-to-air missile sites to show resolve without triggering a larger conflict.
Mr Al Jubeir said there was clear evidence that Iran was behind an increasing number attacks in recent weeks.
Because the threat had global effects, he welcomed efforts to avoid a war.
The US military's Central Command said the drone, an RQ-4 Global Hawk, was shot down in international airspace in an "unprovoked attack".
The drone was hit at 3.35am UAE time, Centcom spokesman Capt Bill Urban said.
"Iranian reports that the aircraft was over Iran are false," Capt Urban said. "This was an unprovoked attack on a US surveillance asset in international airspace."
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it brought the drone down over Iranian territory after it breached Iranian airspace.
It crashed into Iran's southern coastal province of Hormozgan, Iranian Press TV reported.
The Guard claimed the attack was carried out to deter US aggression against Tehran.
"The downing of the American drone was a clear message to America that our borders are Iran's red line and we will react strongly against any aggression," Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami said.
"Iran is not seeking war with any country but we are fully prepared to defend Iran."
America faces an additional complication in that European states have not united behind the visual evidence the US presented of Iranian involvement in the attacks.
A leading US ambassador in Europe said the EU was too absorbed to its support for the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, from which Washington withdrew last year, to see the real danger.
Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the EU, said the European stance was strengthening Iran.
“How many ships need be blown up before the world acknowledges that Iran was responsible?” Mr Sondland asked.
“What is not productive is this rhetoric going back and forth, particularly in some of the news media, where despite the existence of clear video showing ships being mined by Iran, there are still questions about who caused that.
"All that does is give Iran a great deal of leeway.”
US Democrats have been more cautious in the assessment of the Iranian actions.
Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, said the country did not want war.
Former vice president Joe Biden, who is campaigning against Mr Trump in 2020 said the US leader should not have abandoned the deal.
"President Trump's Iran strategy is a self-inflicted disaster," Mr Biden said. "By walking away from diplomacy, Trump has made military conflict more likely."
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
8.50pm The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Majestic Thunder
7.05pm Commanding
7.40pm Mark Of Approval
8.15pm Mulfit
8.50pm Gronkowski
9.25pm Walking Thunder
10pm Midnight Sands
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
Results
6.30pm Madjani Stakes Rated Conditions (PA) I Dh160,000 I 1,900m I Winner: Mawahib, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm Maiden Dh150,000 I 1,400m I Winner One Season, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Maiden Dh150,000 I 2,000m I Winner Street Of Dreams, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.15pm Dubai Creek Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,600m I Winner Heavy Metal, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm The Entisar Listed I Dh250,000 I 2,000m I Winner Etijaah, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
9.25pm The Garhoud Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,200m I Winner Muarrab, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
10pm Handicap I Dh160,000 I 1,600m I Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
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.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
More on Turkey's Syria offence
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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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
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYango%20Deli%20Tech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERetail%20SaaS%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESelf%20funded%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
