Lebanese soldiers and civilians gather near the site of an ISIS-claimed twin bombing in the area of Burj Al Barajneh in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 13, 2015. EPA
Lebanese soldiers and civilians gather near the site of an ISIS-claimed twin bombing in the area of Burj Al Barajneh in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 13, 2015. EPA
Lebanese soldiers and civilians gather near the site of an ISIS-claimed twin bombing in the area of Burj Al Barajneh in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 13, 2015. EPA
Lebanese soldiers and civilians gather near the site of an ISIS-claimed twin bombing in the area of Burj Al Barajneh in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 13, 2015. EPA

Lebanon army arrests ISIS terror cell


  • English
  • Arabic

The Lebanese army has arrested a terrorist cell linked to ISIS, it said on Saturday.

The cell was reportedly carrying out operations inside Lebanon.

“The terrorist cell members were arrested in a series of security operations in the North and Bekaa regions on different dates, and it was found that they had received military training and collected weapons and war ammunition,” the army said in a statement.

The commander of the cell was identified as Khaled Al Talawy, the army said.

ISIS has been damaged to the point that it does not hold any territory in Syria or Iraq any more. But its fighters still operate in some parts of Syria and Iraq, mostly in the vast uncontrolled border areas.

In 2015, Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah declared war on ISIS after the extremists launched an offensive in northern Lebanon.

The Shiite militia once fought an Al Qaeda-linked and other rebel groups along the border that connects Lebanon and Syria. Its leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed to eradicate ISIS' presence in the country and its threat has been minimal for the most part.

The Lebanese army also fought ISIS but did not engage in joint operations with Hezbollah for fear of angering the international community.

Washington classifies the Iran-backed Hezbollah as a terrorist group.

The Lebanese Shiite group has had a strong presence in northern Lebanon since 2015 after it defeated Syrian Sunni rebels who had controlled local villages and towns.

Many rebels, alongside thousands of Sunni refugees fleeing violence and Hezbollah’s control over their towns, took shelter on the Lebanese side of the border strip.

Hezbollah has provided critical military support to President Bashar Al Assad during Syria’s six-year-long war. Its Lebanese critics oppose Hezbollah’s role in the Syrian war.

North-east Lebanon was the scene of one of the worst spillovers of Syria’s war into Lebanon in 2014, when ISIS and Al Qaeda-linked militants attacked the town of Arsal.

One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

How it works

Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com

Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Results

1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)

2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly

4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m

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ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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UAE v Ireland

1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets

2nd ODI, January 12

3rd ODI, January 14

4th ODI, January 16

War and the virus
Gremio 1 Pachuca 0

Gremio Everton 95’

The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year