Hezbollah's Fouad Shukr, the strategist who expanded group's regional reach



Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Fouad Shukr, the Hezbollah commander targeted in an Israeli strike on Beirut on Tuesday night, is regarded as having played a major role in the build-up of the Lebanese group's missile capabilities and its expansion into Syria in the last decade, furthering Iran's rise as a regional power.

If his death is confirmed, Shukr would be the most senior Hezbollah figure to be assassinated since Imad Mughniyeh, its planner who was killed in Damascus in February 2008.

Two former Syrian military figures described Shukr as Mughniyeh's successor in Hezbollah, and second in importance only to leader Hassan Nasrallah.

“He was crucial as an organiser, especially to Hezbollah's missile capabilities. His role in Syria lessened in recent years, but he led the Hezbollah build-up there,” one of the sources said.

The sources said Shukr was sent to Damascus soon after the start of the uprising against President Bashar Al Assad in 2011 to oversee what would become a pervasive Hezbollah presence.

There, Hajj Mohsen, as Shukr was known, was responsible for Hezbollah personnel, the group's arsenal, and setting up loyalist auxiliary brigades.

His contact on the Syrian side was Maj Gen Basam Al Hassan, the director of Presidential Palace Security and Military Office and one of the people closest to Mr Al Assad outside of his family circle, sources said.

In 2019, the US government's Rewards for Justice programme offered $5 million for information leading to Shukr's whereabouts. It described him as a senior adviser on military affairs to Mr Nasrallah.

Shukr, the US government said, also played a central role in the October 23, 1983 bombing of the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut.

The attack, one of the most defining moments in Middle East history, killed 241 personnel and wounded 128. It showed the lethal reach of Iranian-backed Shiite militants and led to the end of most of the direct US involvement in the Lebanese civil war.

Shukr is the latest of many Hezbollah commanders and senior figures linked to the group to be targeted by Israel in Lebanon and in Syria since the war in Gaza started in October.

Israel's military said the strike on Tuesday was in retaliation for a rocket attack from Lebanon that killed 12 Druze children. Shukr, they said, was the commander responsible for the attack. Hezbollah denied any involvement in the strike.

He was also responsible for “the killing of numerous additional Israeli civilians”, the Israeli military said in a statement.

Hezbollah has attacked Israeli targets in northern Israel and in the occupied Golan Heights as part of a wider, Iranian-led retaliation against Israel for its invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian health officials say that more than 39,400 Palestinians has been killed in the Gaza war, which started on October 7, when Hamas and other militants supported by Iran killed 1,200 civilians in an attack on southern Israel.

Hezbollah has signalled in recent days that it will respond to any Israeli retaliation but so far it has not taken any significant action.

Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

'The Batman'

Stars:Robert Pattinson

Director:Matt Reeves

Rating: 5/5

How Beautiful this world is!
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding

 

 

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The Bio

Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959

Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.

He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses

Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas

His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s

Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business

He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery 

Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all

Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

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
The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

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Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

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The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

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Rating: 4/5
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  • Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

Updated: August 01, 2024, 6:42 AM

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