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A28 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 27 June 2020
In Nigeria, an Islamic State-linked group steps up attacks

By HARUNA UMAR and Those wins have been at-
SAM OLUKOYA tributed, in part, to help
Associated Press from communities that are
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) increasingly willing to help
— An Islamic State-linked the military in the hope that
group appears to be re- they can end the violence
gaining strength in north- that has engulfed the re-
eastern Nigeria and is now gion for more than a de-
warning it will target civil- cade.
ians who help the military That has led the Islamic
or even humanitarian or- State West Africa Province
ganizations. to announce a shift in tac-
The Islamic State in West Af- tics that threatens to deep-
rica Province, which broke en the crisis.
away from Boko Haram Pamphlets left at the scene
in 2016, had appeared of the recent attacks
weakened earlier this year warned civilians that they
by internal feuding, said may be considered targets
Nnamdi Obasi, the senior if they aid the military or hu-
adviser for Nigeria at the manitarian groups.
International Crisis Group. It’s a marked shift for the
But earlier this month it killed This photo taken Saturday, June 13, 2020 shows the aftermath of an attack by Islamic extremists group, which until now has
more than 120 people in a in Monguno, northeastern Nigeria. Associated Press spared Muslim residents as
single week, including 40 in long as they pledge alle-
Monguno, a town housing a dispute over leadership extremist group also has The renewed push by the giance to the group and
an estimated 150,000 dis- and the strategy of attack- attacked civilians through Islamic State in West Africa pay taxes that are illegally
placed people and a U.N. ing civilian targets such as suicide bombings often Province comes after the levied on them, said Bunu
humanitarian base that mosques and marketplac- carried out by young girls. military scored some major Malam-Kolo, chief of a lo-
was only able to repel the es. A new campaign by the gains against the extrem- cal defense group trying
jihadists after hours of fight- The splinter faction is now Nigerian military and the ists in the northeast. to protect civilians in north-
ing. believed to have as many regional multinational joint Nigeria’s military and the eastern Borno state.
“The new attack now sug- as 5,000 fighters, accord- task force resulted in the multinational security force The recent reports of civil-
gests that there is a new ing to a International Crisis “killing of over 1,200” Boko “have made tremendous ians aiding the military has
flare to their violence,” Group report last year. Haram and ISWAP fighters, success” in targeting the infuriated the ISWAP group.
Obasi said. Boko Haram has focused according to the military, group’s operational bases, The militants have even
The Islamic State in West Af- on attacking military units, which claims many of their said Kabiru Adamu, a se- publicly named the com-
rica Province broke away targeting soldiers on guard commanders have been curity consultant based in munities they intend to at-
from Boko Haram following or patrol operations. The killed or arrested. Nigeria. tack next. q
Israeli military says 2 Gaza rockets hit U.S. to provide

southern Israel Cambodia with $56 million

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) in development aid
— The Israeli military said
Palestinian militants in the PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The United States
Gaza Strip fired two rock- has agreed to provide Cambodia with more than $56
ets late on Friday toward million in development assistance, the two countries
southern Israel, shattering announced.
months of near-total calm. The aid provides an opportunity to improve relations
There were no reports of between the nations, which are strained because of
damage or injury and no Washington's criticism of Prime Minister Hun Sen's gov-
Palestinian militant group ernment as authoritarian and undemocratic.
immediately claimed re- After the U.S. judged Cambodia's 2018 general elec-
sponsibility for the attack. tion to be unfree and unfair, it imposed limited dip-
The rockets came a day lomatic and economic sanctions to show its disap-
after Gaza's Hamas rulers proval.
warned of violence over Is- The U.S. is also competing with China for influence
raeli plans to annex parts of Hamas supporters paint heir faces while mach with their green in Cambodia, where Beijing has its strongest politi-
the occupied West Bank. and national flags during a protest against Israel's plan to cal foothold in Southeast Asia thanks to generous aid
Tensions are simmering in annex parts of the West Bank and U.S. President Donald Trump's and investment and a lack of criticism of Hun Sen's
the Palestinian territories mideast initiative, after Friday prayer at the main road of Khan style of governing.
over Israel's annexation Younis City, Gaza Strip, Friday, June 26, 2020. The joint statement received Friday said $38 million of
plans for the West Bank, Associated Press the aid is for health and education, and about $18
including the strategically Jerusalem. of war." million for agriculture and environmental programs.
important Jordan Valley. On Thursday, the armed For most of the first half It quoted Chin Bun Sean, a government minister and
The annexation would ef- wing of Hamas warned of 2020, the Gaza-Israel vice chairman of Cambodia' state development
fectively dash Palestin- of violence if Israel pro- frontier remained calm as agency, as saying the agreement signed Thursday
ian hopes of establishing ceeds with the annexation Hamas stopped weekend "is an important pillar in promoting and strengthening
a viable state in the West plans, saying such a move demonstrations that often the cooperation and partnership between the two
Bank, Gaza Strip and east amounts to "a declaration turned violent. q countries."q