President Joe Biden said a “major terrorist leader” was eliminated in the overnight US military raid in north-western Syria that resulted in the death of the leader of ISIS along with several members of his family.
Abu Ibrahim Al Hashimi Al Qurayshi was killed when he detonated a bomb in the third-storey apartment he and his family shared in Atmeh village in north-western Syria as US forces closed in, said senior US officials who briefed reporters on the mission. There were no American casualties.
“This horrible terrorist leader is no more,” Mr Biden said from the White House. “Our forces carried out the operation with their signature preparation and precision.”
Al Qurayshi took over as head of ISIS on October 31, 2019 — days after leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi died during a US raid in the same area.
He died as Al Baghdadi did: by detonating a bomb as US forces approached in what Mr Biden described as a “final act of desperate cowardice".
“With no regard to the lives of his own family or others in the building, he chose to blow himself up … rather than face justice for the crimes he has committed, taking several members of his family with him just as his predecessor did,” the president said.
At least 13 people including six children and Al Qurayshi's wife were killed in the assault, which took place about five kilometres from the Syrian border with Turkey, local civil defence teams said.
UNICEF said it had confirmed that that at least six children were killed and one girl was badly injured.
Mr Biden said he and the Pentagon had chosen to conduct a special forces operation rather than an air strike in a bid to minimise civilian casualties.
US military procedures to guard against civilian casualties are currently under scrutiny following a high-profile mistaken drone strike in Afghanistan that the Pentagon initially hailed a success.
Senior US officials said Mr Biden approved the operation on Tuesday after months of planning once it was determined Al Qurayshi was definitely at the site.
Gen Frank McKenzie, the head of the US military's Central Command, described a high-risk operation where US forces started the mission by calling on occupants of the building to evacuate.
Six civilians safely left the first floor, but then a massive explosion followed, the commander said.
“It killed everyone on the third floor, and in fact it ejected multiple people from the building, including Haji Abdullah," Gen McKenzie said, using another name for Al Qurayshi. He added that the intent of the raid was to capture, not kill, Al Qurayshi.
One official said the former ISIS leader had overseen the group's networks globally and was “the driving force behind the genocide of the Yazidi religious minority in north-western Iraq in 2014 and the enslavement of thousands of young Yazidi girls using rape as a weapon of war".
The raid was complicated by a mechanical failure of one of the helicopters used by US forces, who then destroyed it at a nearby location.
“Last night's operation took a major terrorist leader off the battlefield and sends a strong message to terrorists around the world,” Mr Biden said. “We will come after you and find you.”
The operation came as ISIS has been attempting a resurgence, with a series of attacks in the region, including a 10-day assault late last month to seize a Syrian prison.
US special forces landed in helicopters and began an assault on a house in the rebel-held corner of Syria, engaging in clashes for two hours with gunmen, witnesses said.
Residents described continuous gunfire and explosions that jolted Atmeh, an area dotted with camps for people who have been internally displaced due to Syria’s civil war.
The operation marked a military success for the US at an important time after setbacks elsewhere — including the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal — have led allies and opponents to conclude US power globally was weakening.
Republican Senator Mitt Romney welcomed the strike as "very good news".
"Obviously ISIS is a great threat not only to our interests in the Middle East, but also around the world," Mr Romney said.
Fellow Republican Senator Lindsey Graham praised a "successful operation against a very dangerous man" and said it vindicated a continued US troop presence in Syria.
A number of groups with links to Al Qaeda operate in the country's north-west, the last major bastion of rebels fighting President Bashar Al Assad in the decade-long Syrian war. Leaders of ISIS have also hidden in the area.
A US official noted that the area in northern Syria is under the control of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), an Al Qaeda affiliate. Al Baghdadi was hiding in the same area.
Jennifer Cafarella, a counter-terrorism expert at the Institute for the Study of War, saw a pattern emerging.
“Two successive ISIS leaders have received safe harbour in areas dominated by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, a successor to Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate that seeks to portray itself as a moderate actor worthy of international engagement,” Ms Cafarella told The National.
“Rhetoric aside, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham's rule in north-west Syria continues to provide a range of transnational actors a relatively secure base from which to operate.”
Colin Clarke, a senior research fellow at The Soufan Centre, saw the operation as more of a tactical win than a strategic victory for the US against ISIS.
“While it's important and could very well cause issues for ISIS, those issues will likely be operational, not organisational,” Mr Clarke said.
“It will disrupt whatever campaign was in the works, but it's not a backbreaker for the organisation. More of a temporary inconvenience until a new leader is selected and announced.”
Still, Mr Clarke said the timing was ideal for Washington and its allies.
“Given the recent prison break operation in Hassakeh, ISIS was gearing up for a broader offensive and looking to capitalise on its momentum to kick a terror campaign into overdrive,” he noted.
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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
Rebel%20Moon%20-%20Part%20One%3A%20A%20Child%20of%20Fire
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EZack%20Snyder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESofia%20Boutella%2C%20Djimon%20Hounsou%2C%20Ed%20Skrein%2C%20Michiel%20Huisman%2C%20Charlie%20Hunnam%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ORDER OF PLAY ON SHOW COURTS
Centre Court - 4pm (UAE)
Gael Monfils (15) v Kyle Edmund
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Magdalena Rybarikova
Dusan Lajovic v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 - 4pm
Adam Pavlasek v Novak Djokovic (2)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Gilles Simon
Angelique Kerber (1) v Kirsten Flipkens
Court 2 - 2.30pm
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Marcos Baghdatis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Christina McHale
Milos Raonic (6) v Mikhail Youzhny
Tsvetana Pironkova v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
The biog
Name: Salem Alkarbi
Age: 32
Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira
First started supporting Al Wasl: 7
Biggest rival: Al Nasr
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Match info
Newcastle United 1
Joselu (11')
Tottenham Hotspur 2
Vertonghen (8'), Alli (18')
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
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
More on animal trafficking
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
RESULT
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87')
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
