AL HOSN , Syria // Columns are blackened with soot and vaults have crumbled in one of the courtyards of the Krak des Chevaliers, a Crusader castle that is a Unesco World Heritage Site and a victim of Syria’s civil war.
The army seized the medieval fortress on Thursday after fierce fighting in the nearby village of Al Hosn in central Syria, routing rebels who had captured it in July 2011.
Most of the 11th-century fortress and its external walls appear intact but the damage is inside, in the lower courtyard.
Fires, apparently set by the rebels who were entrenched inside the fortress, have ravaged ancient pillars, while some archways and vaults have collapsed.
Huge blocs of grey stone litter the ground but it is not clear if the damage was caused during the capture of the fortress or in earlier bombardments.
The only bullet holes that can be seen are on a metal plate that once was inscribed with information for tourists.
“We acted in a way to preserve the Krak, to make sure it would not be damaged,” said a colonel who escorted journalists on a tour of the fortress organised by the army on Friday.
In July 2011, four months after the Syrian conflict erupted, Sunni villagers from the village of Al Hosn seized the Krak and were soon joined by allied rebels, including Lebanese fighters.
Islamist fighters also occupied the Krak, including those from Al Nusra Front, Al Qaeda’s Syria affiliate, and from the Jund Al Sham group.
The fighters were routed as part of a Syrian government offensive to sever rebel supply lines from neighbouring Lebanon.
They left behind all sorts of supplies. A pot of leftover meat and rice stew can be seen in a room that rebels apparently used as a command centre and living quarters.
Rugs cover the hard stone floors, there are cot beds and, on one side of a room that apparently served as the kitchen, there is a cupboard that contains rice and a tin of vegetable shortening.
Curtains are strung across loopholes to keep the daylight out and men’s clothing is strewn across the room.
Nearby are the women’s quarters, said the colonel, adding that 700 rebels lived in the Krak.
The decor is spartan, mattresses on the floor and a small desk, religious books and bottles of henna. Women’s clothes can be seen.
The room reeks of incense.
The rebels even left behind their washing, soaking in the courtyard .
Weapons and mortar rounds were stored in another room.
The colonel said the army took the rebels by surprise and seized the Krak after an operation that lasted 12 hours.
The Krak ranks as one of the best preserved examples of medieval fortresses from the times of the Crusaders, according to Unesco.
Like other Crusader castles in the Middle East, it sits atop a hill that dominates the landscape as far as the eye can see.
Initially Abbassid Muslims built a fortress on the hill in 1031 but the bulk of the existing fortress was built by the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, which was given the castle in 1142.
There were further fortifications built towards the end of the 13th century by the Mamluks, who swept in and seized it from the Crusaders.
The Krak was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage Site list in 2006, one of six Syrian sites to get the label.
Last year, Unesco placed all six of Syria’s World Heritage sites on its World Heritage in Danger list, including the old quarters of Damascus and Aleppo, Palmyra and Qalat Salaheddin fortress.
The move reflected growing concern that serious damage was being inflicted on these sites, as the war that erupted in Syria in March 2011 raged on.
* Agence France-Presse
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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.
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Tickets
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Joker: Folie a Deux
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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RACECARD
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (PA) $50,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
6.35pm: Festival City Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic – Listed (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.45pm: Jumeirah Classic Trial – Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
The%20specs
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The%20Sandman
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
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Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
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The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
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