Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Israeli planes have struck a suburb of Damascus in the latest attack on Iran's area of influence in Syria.
Syrian media quoted a military official as saying that several locations on the outskirts of Damascus were struck by Israel on Wednesday. The strikes “only caused material damage,” the official said.
The Lebanese television Maydeen said one of the strikes occurred in the Sayyidah Zaynab neighbourhood. The Israeli military did not comment on the strikes.
Militias allied with Tehran in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon have increased their attacks on Israeli and US targets since Hamas, a militant group also linked to Tehran and the Muslim Brotherhood, attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people. Israeli retaliation following the attack has killed more than 30,000 people.
Israel has also increased air strikes on Iranian sites and supply lines in Syria since October 7, hitting Damascus and Aleppo airports, as well as sites linked to Hezbollah, the militia backed by Syrian President Bashar Al and allied with Hamas against Israel.
Both the US and Iran have said they do not want to escalate a regional war, but violence has increased since Israel's ground incursion in Gaza.
Sayyidah Zaynab is home to a shrine that contains the grave of Zaynab, the daughter of Ali. It is an important pilgrimage for Shiite Muslims.
The Shiite group Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon but supported by the Iranian and Syrian regimes, cited the protection of the shrine as its initial justification for entering the Syrian civil war in 2011-2012.
The area has since become a centre for Shiite militias from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, many of which are backed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran started increasing its military presence in Syria as the pro-democracy uprisings of 2011 led to a civil war in the country, with regional and international powers offering support to different parties.
Tehran and Moscow played a vital role in supporting the Assad regime and have retained an influential role in Syria.
Iran-backed groups have also been accused of smuggling weapons capable of striking Israel into Syria.
Israel is facing missile strikes from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah on its northern border in Lebanon. It has sought to limit attacks from Syria.
Since 2013, Israel has been carrying out air strikes to destroy such capabilities.
In 2019, Israeli politician Lt Gen Gadi Eisenkot acknowledged that Israel had struck “thousands” of targets within Syria, dropping 2,000 bombs in 2018.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: South Africa, field first
Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48
South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
