Al Tanf military outpost in southern Syria in 2018. AP
Al Tanf military outpost in southern Syria in 2018. AP
Al Tanf military outpost in southern Syria in 2018. AP
Al Tanf military outpost in southern Syria in 2018. AP

US shoots down two more drones in Syria as Pentagon warns of escalation


Thomas Watkins
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US forces shot down two drones targeting a Central Command base in southern Syria, the Pentagon said as it warned of Iran-backed militias trying to exploit the turmoil in the Middle East.

Monday's attempted attack is the latest in a series of recent strikes on US forces in the Middle East believed to have been carried out by groups backed by Iran.

The drones were headed towards Al Tanf, in a strategic area near the Syrian border crossing with Iraq and Jordan.

“I can confirm that there was an attempted drone attack at Al Tanf in Syria. Two, one-way attack drones, taken down,” Pentagon press secretary Brig Gen Pat Ryder said, adding there were no injuries to US troops.

Brig Gen Ryder said the drones were destroyed with “defensive systems”.

He said the Pentagon does not have concrete evidence that Tehran has explicitly ordered militias under their influence to carry out these kinds of attacks.

“That said, by virtue of the fact that they are supported by Iran, we will ultimately hold Iran responsible,” Brig Gen Ryder said.

When pressed on the issue, said: “We haven't seen a direct order, for example, from the supreme leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] saying: 'Go out and do this'.”

The US is trying to contain the Israel-Gaza conflict but increasing strikes by Iran-backed militias in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq show Tehran could be seeking to exploit the turmoil.

A senior US defence official said the situation could become significantly worse.

“We see a prospect for much more significant escalation against US forces and personnel in the near term,” the official said.

“Let's be clear about it: The road leads back to Iran. Iran funds, arms, equips and trains militias and proxy forces all across the region.”

The official said the recent surge in attacks was “efforts by Iran and Iran proxy forces to seek to escalate this conflict”.

Al Tanf was also the target of an attack last week, and Iranian militias are suspected of launching drones in Iraq, including near Al Asad airbase.

Iraq on Monday condemned as “unacceptable” attacks against bases on its territory housing US forces.

Since Wednesday, at least five rocket and drone attacks have targeted three Iraqi military bases where American troops are stationed as part of the international coalition set up to fight ISIS.

“The attacks that target Iraqi bases that house advisers from the international coalition in Iraq are unacceptable,” Iraq's military spokesman Yahya Rasool said in a statement, according to AFP.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani “directed all the security services to … pursue the elements responsible for these attacks”, he added.

Most of the attacks have been claimed by a group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq on Telegram channels affiliated with Shiite factions loyal to Iran.

The Pentagon has stationed naval assets, including two aircraft carrier strike groups, in the region in an attempt to prevent this.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system and extra Patriot air defence missile system battalions will be sent to the region and more troops put on standby.

Al Tanf garrison was established when ISIS fighters took control of eastern Syria along the border with Iraq.

After the militants were driven out, it became part of the larger US strategy to contain Iran's military reach in the region.

On Thursday, A US warship operating in the Red Sea intercepted drones and missiles that had been launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and were possibly headed towards targets in Israel, the Pentagon said.

The USS Carney last week shot down three missiles that had been fired from Yemen and were heading north, potentially to Israel. US Navy / AP
The USS Carney last week shot down three missiles that had been fired from Yemen and were heading north, potentially to Israel. US Navy / AP

 

Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books

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MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
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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

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Price: From Dh590,000

The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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Draw

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Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)

RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)

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Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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

'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg

Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports

If you go

The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
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The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.

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 
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US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:

Louisiana Purchase

If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.

Florida Purchase Treaty

The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty. 

Alaska purchase

America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of  Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".

The Philippines

At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million. 

US Virgin Islands

It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.

Gwadar

The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees. 

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

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On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Match info

Athletic Bilbao 0

Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

War

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor

Rating: Two out of five stars 

Most F1 world titles

7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)

7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)

5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)

4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)

4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)

The Beach Bum

Director: Harmony Korine

Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg

Two stars

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'Midnights'
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Updated: October 23, 2023, 11:00 PM`