Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 20 november 2019
Israeli military says 4 rockets fired from Syria intercepted

By ARON HELLER Prime Minister Benjamin Ne-
Associated Press tanyahu has issued a series
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Is- of warnings recently about
raeli military said it inter- Iranian aggression through-
cepted four incoming rock- out the Middle East.
ets from Syria on Tuesday Iran has forces based in Syr-
and explosions were heard ia, Israel's northern neigh-
shortly after that in Damas- bor, and supports Hezbol-
cus, a week after another lah militants in Lebanon.
Israeli strike targeted a top In Gaza, it supplies Islamic
Palestinian militant in the Jihad with cash, weapons
Syrian capital. and expertise.
Israeli air defense systems Netanyahu also has
captured the projectiles, claimed Iran is using Iraq
the military said, and no and far-off Yemen, where
harm was caused to Israeli Tehran supports Shiite
communities in the Golan Houthi rebels at war with a
Heights after warning sirens Saudi-led coalition backing
awoke residents there early the government, to plan at-
in the morning. There was tacks against Israel. Hamas
no immediate official com- also receives some support
ment from Syria but the from Iran.
SANA state news agency Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, looks across the table at his new Defence Minister At the same time, Iran's re-
reported explosions were Naftali Bennett, second right front, at the start of the the weekly cabinet meeting at hthe prime gional influence is being
heard near Damascus In- minister's Jerusalem office, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. challenged by unprece-
ternational Airport, indicat- Associated Press dented, economically-driv-
ing a potential Israeli retal- ian Observatory for Human missiles were fired from an interests in Syria. But last en mass protests in Iraq and
iatory strike. The Israeli mili- Rights said Israel targeted earlier toward the Golan week's airstrike appeared Lebanon — two countries
tary would not comment posts southwest of Damas- Heights. to be a rare assassination where Tehran wields major
on the explosions in Syria, cus with five missiles, add- The rare rocket fire comes attempt of a Palestinian influence. The protests are
but Defense Minister Naftali ing that Syrian air defenses a week after an Israeli air- militant in the Syrian capi- creating unrest that Tehran
Bennett was convening the shot down some of the mis- strike against a top Pal- tal. It came the same day fears would spark a back-
top military brass in Tel Aviv siles. The war monitor said estinian militant based in as another Israeli airstrike lash against Iran-backed
to discuss the latest devel- Lebanon's Hezbollah fight- Syria. Akram al-Ajouri, a killed a senior Islamic Jihad proxy militias in those coun-
opments. ers are active in the area member of the leadership commander in Gaza, set- tries.
Speaking on Israel Army that was struck and that of the militant Islamic Jihad tling off the fiercest round Iran's Supreme Leader Aya-
Radio, Foreign Minister Isra- there was no immediate group who is living in exile, of fighting there in years. tollah Ali Khamenei has
el Katz was equally vague, word on casualties. survived the attack but his It all comes amid height- accused the U.S. and its
saying only that "Israel will The Observatory said the son and granddaughter ened tensions between regional allies of foment-
act in the way it sees fit." area targeted near Da- were killed. Israel and Iranian proxies ing the Iraq and Lebanon
The Britain-based Syr- mascus is where the four Israel frequently strikes Irani- along its borders. Israeli unrest.q

Ex-PM Sharif leaves Pakistan for medical treatment in London

years ago, has had a his- Nawaz Sharif has always had made a personal ap-
tory of health problems, in- maintained his innocence peal and that he could
cluding heart disease. and denied the corruption not stand in the way of
He departed on a specially charges that prompted medical treatment for his
equipped medical plane the country's top court to ailing predecessor. Sharif's
from the Pakistani city of remove him from office in party has blamed Khan's
Lahore, after a court grant- July 2017. He claims he has government for impos-
ed him permission to leave been politically victimized. ing a heavy bail bond on
for four weeks abroad for Elections that followed that the former premier, a sum
medical treatment. His year ushered in the gov- that was later overturned
conviction was earlier sus- ernment of Imran Khan, by the authorities, allowing
pended for eight weeks on who has vowed to root out Sharif to leave. His permit
medical grounds. corruption. Sharif was ear- for four weeks abroad can
Local television stations lier this year sentenced to be extended if he isn't well
broadcast footage of Sharif seven years in prison. After enough to travel back. He
being helped by one of his his health deteriorated last entered politics as a prote-
Supporters of Pakistan's ailing former Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif shout slogans at an airport in Lahore, Pakistan, Tuesday, brothers and another man month, he was rushed from ge of dictator Gen. Zia ul-
Nov. 19, 2019. to board the plane, which his prison cell to a hospital Haq, who seized power in
Associated Press was then shown in the air in Lahore where he later a military coup in 1977 and
By ZAHEER BABAR Tuesday to travel to Lon- after takeoff. suffered a minor heart at- appointed Sharif finance
MUNIR AHMED don for medical treatment. Sharif's younger brother tack. minister for the province of
Associated Press The 69-year-old Sharif, who Shahbaz Sharif, who is the Khan on Monday dismissed Punjab. Sharif's first stint as
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — served three times as prime head of Pakistan Muslim all speculation about a po- prime minister, from 1990
Pakistan's ailing former minister but fell from grace League opposition party, is litical deal to allow Sharif to 1993, ended when then-
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, after the Supreme Court accompanying him along to leave and reaffirmed his President Ghulam Ishaq
who was convicted of cor- ousted him from office over with his physician Adnan intention to fight corrup- Khan dismissed him amid
ruption, left the country on corruption allegations two Khan. tion. He said Sharif's brother corruption allegations. q