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An Israeli commando unit captured an agent of Iran in a cross-border raid into Syria, the military said. The announcement comes two days after marine commandos seized a suspected Hezbollah operative on the Lebanese coast, as Israel intensifies operations in both countries.
Ground forces are being used increasingly for specific missions inside Syria, as Israel piles pressure on Damascus to distance itself from Iran. Syrian authorities have responded with moves that appear designed to curb the operational scope of pro-Iranian militias in the country, although these groups have retained their freedom of movement 13 months into the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Lebanese and Syrian media outlets loyal to Iran confirmed Israeli forces had penetrated the Syrian province of Qunaitra, west of Damascus, in July and arrested Ali Al Assi, described by the outlets as a milkman. He was reportedly based in an area adjacent to a 1974 armistice line between Syrian and Israeli troops in the occupied Golan Heights. The line was drawn a year after a war launched by Syria, alongside Egypt, failed to regain the area.
In a televised interrogation broadcast by the Israeli military, Mr Al Assi said he had been recruited by a member of Syria's Military Intelligence because he lived in a "good area" from where he could monitor Israeli troop movements.
He gave examples of information he had relayed: an Israeli tank "moving here or there, or an Israeli patrol that passed by at such and such hour". He said it was clear that the Military Intelligence personnel who recruited him were acting on behalf of Iran. There was no official Syrian reaction to Mr Al Assi's capture.
Military Intelligence, the most powerful of several Syrian secret police divisions, is controlled by Brig Gen Maher Al Assad, a brother of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Brig Gen Al Assad is widely regarded as the main facilitator for the activities of Iran and its proxies in Syria.
Waiel Olwan, senior researcher at the Jusoor Centre for Studies in Istanbul, said the capture of Mr Al Assi was part of intensified Israeli operations to dismantle "the security and economic infrastructure of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria". By taking him alive, he said, Israel is hoping to gain more information about "local networks" Hezbollah has been recruiting.
Hezbollah poured militiamen and hardware into Syria shortly after a revolt against President Al Assad in 2011. During the ensuing civil war, Hezbollah, along with Iraqi militias, became the enforcers of an Iranian-controlled corridor running across Syria to Lebanon, the Golan Heights and Jordan. Israel has struck targets in the corridor hundreds of times over the past decade.
Israel has also stepped up attacks in Syria against figures linked to Tehran since its troops reportedly stormed an Iranian-controlled weapons development compound in Masyaf, central Syria in September. Days later, Israeli warplanes struck a villa in a Damascus suburb frequented by Brig Gen Al Assad. Although there were no reports of casualties, the attack was seen as a signal that Syria's top brass were no longer immune from Israeli assaults.
An Israeli military spokesman said Mr Al Assi's capture thwarted a planned attack by Iranian "terrorist" networks and that he had been seized in "recent months". The announcement of the ground operation was a rare acknowledgement of Israeli military activities in Syria.
On Friday, Israeli marine commandos abducted a ship captain from the town of Batroun in northern Lebanon during an operation launched from the sea. The man was a senior Hezbollah member, a military official told The National, and was being investigated by one of Israel's military intelligence units.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati instructed his Foreign Minister to file an urgent complaint with the UN Security Council over the kidnapping. Hezbollah issued a statement labelling it “Zionist aggression” but the group did not confirm whether the man captured was one of its members.
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Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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
Dubai Women's Tour teams
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Kazakhstan National Team
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Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
Minsk Cycling Club
Pannonia Regional Team (Fehérvár)
Team Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Team Ciclotel
UAE Women’s Team
Under 23 Kazakhstan Team
Wheel Divas Cycling Team
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UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The specs
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Power: 310hp
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
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FIXTURES (all times UAE)
Sunday
Brescia v Lazio (3.30pm)
SPAL v Verona (6pm)
Genoa v Sassuolo (9pm)
AS Roma v Torino (11.45pm)
Monday
Bologna v Fiorentina (3.30pm)
AC Milan v Sampdoria (6pm)
Juventus v Cagliari (6pm)
Atalanta v Parma (6pm)
Lecce v Udinese (9pm)
Napoli v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance
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Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
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
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
