Iran-backed elements of the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) sent mixed messages about their intent to attack US personnel in Iraq, on the anniversary of the death of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and the PMFs’ de facto head, Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis.
Both men were killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020, after several months of escalating violence that led to the death of a US contractor.
The PMF statements follow widespread fears that Iran would use the militias to launch a series of revenge attacks on US forces. Iran and its proxy groups have long promised to strike US forces again in retaliation for Suleimani’s death, despite launching a barrage of ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq on January 7.
Despite that attack – which nearly led to war – the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Gen Hossein Salami recently promised a "hard revenge" was coming for US forces.
On Sunday, the most notorious PMF group Kataib Hezbollah issued a statement on Twitter through its spokesman Ali Al Askari. "We will not enter today into the embassy of evil, and we will not overthrow this [Iraqi] government, and there is still plenty of time," Mr Al Askari said, according to the Flashpoint intelligence consultancy.
Other militias, which Iraq security analyst Michael Knights assesses are backed by Iran, have continued non-fatal attacks on US forces, targeting logistics convoys.
In a remark aimed at belittling US-allied Iraqi soldiers, militia group Ashab Al Kahf warned the "children" of the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service that they must "not accompany the convoys of the American occupier", suggesting more attacks are imminent.
In a sign of how close Iraq could be to seeing a US-Iran clash on its soil, departing US President Donald Trump warned Iran-backed groups on December 31 that in the event of a US casualty, "Iran will be held fully responsible".
Despite this warning, the US withdrew the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz from the Arabian Gulf on Friday. According to The New York Times, which quoted unnamed US officials, the ship's relocation was intended to send a "de-escalatory" signal to Tehran.
But the vessel's relocation could also send a misleading message, if Iran decides to launch a revenge operation.
IRGC's Maj Gen Yahya Safavi said on Saturday that his forces could turn a US carrier "into a submarine." Despite this confidence, the US has probably retained other options to defend itself in the region: on December 21, the US Navy announced that the submarine USS Georgia transited the Strait of Hormuz. The submarine is equipped with 154 cruise missiles.
According to aviation monitoring service Intel Air and Sea, the US was also flying RC-135 refuelling aircraft over Iraq early on Sunday, suggesting Washington is retaining the ability to launch air strikes, despite the departure of the USS Nimitz.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
Race card
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Calvin Harris
Columbia
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
more from Janine di Giovanni
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
FA CUP FINAL
Manchester City 6
(D Silva 26', Sterling 38', 81', 87', De Bruyne 61', Jesus 68')
Watford 0
Man of the match: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
