The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitoring group claimed on Tuesday it had “confirmed information” that ISIL leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi had been killed in Syria.
If true, Al Baghdadi’s death would deal another major blow to ISIL — which has already lost Mosul in Iraq, the largest city under its control, and is taking major losses in its self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa in Syria — while also boosting the morale of the group’s many enemies. Claims of Al Baghdadi’s death have been made frequently in recent years, but Iraqi, Kurdish and US officials were unable to confirm the Observatory’s report on Tuesday.
The director of the UK-based monitor, Rami Abdul Rahman, told Reuters: “[We have] confirmed information from leaders, including one of the first rank, in the Islamic State in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.”
While Mr Abdulrahman said his group had information of Al Baghdadi’s death, their sources did not specify when he died or how.
In a statement received by The National, US central command said it could not confirm the report "but hope[s] it is true".
“We strongly advise ISIS to implement a strong line of succession, it will be needed,” Centcom said.
In June, Russia said it may have killed Al Baghdadi during air strikes on ISIL commanders on the outskirts of Raqqa. After that claim, a Russian senator said the likelihood of Al Baghdadi being dead was "close to 100 per cent" while a representative of Iran's supreme leader said the ISIL leader was "definitely dead".
The US and others have cast doubt on Moscow’s claims, however.
The Iraqi-born Al Baghdadi declared an ISIL caliphate from Mosul’s ancient Grand Al Nuri mosque in June 2014 after his group made lightning gains across Syria and Iraq. At its height, ISIL’s territory stretched from the suburbs of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to northern Syria's Aleppo province, controlling a huge swathe of territory.
The group enforced puritanical laws in areas it controlled with twisted forms of capital punishment, executing or enslaving members of other faiths and sects. Like-minded extremists from around the world migrated to ISIL-held territory to help the group expand the area under its control.
But faced with attacks from the US-led anti-ISIL coalition and its allies on the ground in Iraq and Syria, the extremist group has suffered major losses, forfeiting much of its territory. While fighting is still ongoing, the group that seemed to be an unstoppable behemoth in 2014 is today not even a shadow of its former self.
With Mosul lost and Raqqa completely encircled, it is believed that senior ISIL leaders have fled elsewhere. As the group's fighters in Raqqa face certain defeat, ISIL is looking to make another last stand at Deir Ezzor to the south-east — the area where the Observatory said Al Baghdadi was killed.
Elsewhere in Syria on Tuesday, rebels operating near a recently-declared ceasefire zone in southern Syria claimed they had shot down a Syrian government jet.
The Lions of the East Army and the Ahmad Al Abdo Forces said the jet crashed into regime-held territory. The Observatory said the plane was shot down on the border of Sweida province — one of three provinces included in a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US, Russia and Jordan.
While the ceasefire held strong on its first day on Sunday, some clashes broke out on Monday and Tuesday in areas covered by the truce.
The tensions in the ceasefire zone come as representatives of the Syrian government and opposition were in Geneva for the seventh round of UN-sponsored peace talks.
The ceasefire is the first example of close co-operation between the US and Russia in Syria, but the deal could be derailed if violence in the area continues.
* Additional reporting by Reuters
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETamer%20Ruggli%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadine%20Labaki%2C%20Fanny%20Ardant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
Company%20Profile
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Spider-Man: No Way Home
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Rating:*****
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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The five pillars of Islam
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
MANDOOB
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Ali%20Kalthami%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Mohammed%20Dokhei%2C%20Sarah%20Taibah%2C%20Hajar%20Alshammari%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
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.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
BABYLON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Damien%20Chazelle%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Margot%20Robbie%2C%20Jean%20Smart%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
AL%20BOOM
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Company%20Profile
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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