BEIRUT // The Syrian regime of Bashar Al Assad admitted for the first time yesterday that it had stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons.
The regime also said it would use the weapons if it were attacked by a foreign power, a blunt threat described by the German foreign minister as "outrageous".
Jihad Makdissi, Syria's foreign ministry spokesman, said the weapons were secure and insisted they would not be used against the Syrian people.
"No chemical or biological weapons will ever be used, and I repeat, will never be used, during the crisis in Syria no matter what the developments inside Syria," he said.
"All of these types of weapons are in storage and under security and the direct supervision of the Syrian armed forces and will never be used unless Syria is exposed to external aggression."
As chaos grips more of the country, there are growing concerns about Syria's stockpile of non-conventional weapons, believed to be among the largest in the region and to include nerve agents and mustard gas.
The United States believes Syrian authorities recently moved chemical weapons material from the north, where there has been intense fighting.
"They should not think one iota about using chemical weapons," the Pentagon press secretary George Little said yesterday. "We have been very strong in our statements inside the US government on the prospective use of chemical weapons and it would be entirely unacceptable."
The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon said the use of chemical weapons in Syria would be "reprehensible".
Israel has not ruled out military action to prevent the weapons from being used against it.
After a week of fierce fighting in Damascus between government forces and rebels fighting to topple the Assad regime, Mr Makdissi said yesterday the situation in the capital was being brought under control.
However, while the fighting in the capital appeared to have eased, activists still reported further clashes and continuing military operations.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 23 people had been "summarily executed" on Sunday by government forces in the Damascus neighbourhoods of Mazeh and Barzeh.
The dead had been shot and some of the bodies bore signs of torture. It was not clear if they were civilians or opposition fighters.
The opposition Local Coordination Committees said 20 bodies had been found in Barzeh.
The violence also continued in Syria's largest city, Aleppo, with clashes in the neighbourhoods of Hanano and Sakhour, according to the UK-based Observatory. Rebels announced on Sunday that they were launching an operation to "liberate" the city, which is Syria's commercial hub.
At least 82 people died across Syria yesterday, according to the LCC.
While diplomatic efforts have failed to bring an end to the crisis, the Arab League - which last year suspended Syria's membership - yesterday urged Mr Al Assad to step down as president and said he and his family would be offered "safe exit" from Syria.
Damascus dismissed the calls, and the Iraqi government said it did not back calls for Mr Al Assad to step aside.
"The Iraqi delegation put forward their reservation," said Iraq's government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh. "It is not usual for the ministerial council to ask someone to leave. This is the sole responsibility of the Syrian people and others should not interfere."
However, the Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al Maliki reversed a previous decision and called on Iraqi authorities to allow Syrian refugees into the country and provide them with support.
As Syria faces growing international isolation, the European Union moved to impose more sanctions and a stricter arms embargo. New rules would require EU member states to search planes and ships if there were reasonable grounds to suspect they may be transporting weapons.
"These sanctions are important because they will allow ships to be examined to see what cargo they're carrying, and that will prevent, I hope, any arms reaching Syria," said Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief.
The tighter sanctions mean Syria's national airline will be banned from landing at EU airports, except in emergencies. Travel bans and asset freezes were also placed on an additional 26 Syrian officials.
Lebanon's president Michel Suleiman accused Syria of violating his country's territory after repeated cross-border incidents, including firing into Lebanese areas.
Mr Suleiman has instructed the country's foreign minister Adnan Mansour to deliver a letter of objection to Syria's envoy to Beirut.
zconstantine@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
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The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
