Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 10 February 2018
Turkey resumes airstrikes on Syrian Kurdish enclave

By SUZAN FRASER backed opposition fight- mir Putin and French Presi- one of President Bashar ian situation" in regions that
BASSEM MROUE ers began a ground and dent Emmanuel Macron Assad's strongest support- have been pummeled by
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Tur- air campaign on the Afrin discussed cooperating ers, intervening in 2015 to Syrian and Russian airstrikes
key resumed airstrikes in Syr- enclave three weeks ago, more closely to resolve the tip the balance of power in in recent days, according
ia's Kurdish enclave of Afrin Kurdish officials said. Syrian conflict in a phone his favor. France is among to a statement from his of-
after a brief lull, killing and The offensive has displaced call Friday. The civil war Assad's harshest critics. fice. Turkey's state-run An-
wounding several people, thousands of people, many has killed about 400,000, Macron's office said he adolu Agency said F-16 jets
the military and Kurdish of- of whom have gone to the displaced half the popula- pushed for more robust resumed bombing Thurs-
ficials said Friday. town of Afrin that is already tion and sent more than 5 peace talks — notably after day night, striking the north-
The attacks on border ar- crowded with tens of thou- million refugees mostly to a Russia-sponsored effort western enclave's Mount
eas and the main town in sands of displaced who neighboring countries. last month was boycotted Bafilun, the villages of Sheik
the region began Thurs- fled violence in other parts In its statement, the Krem- by the Syrian opposition. Huruz and Kefer Jenne,
day night and have been of Syria over the years. lin did not elaborate on Macron also pressed Putin and the regions of Sheran,
among the worst since the The new bloodshed came the call between Putin and to stop "intolerable degra- Jinderes and Raju, among
Turkish army and Ankara- as Russian President Vladi- Macron. Russia has been dation of the humanitar- other targets.q

Egypt launches massive security operation against militants

By ASHRAF SWEILAM heightened alert levels in
MENNA ZAKI north Sinai hospitals and in
Associated Press other neighboring provinc-
EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — es in anticipation of casual-
Egypt began a massive ties. Local gas stations and
security operation Friday shops were also ordered
involving land, sea and air shut.
forces in areas including The military campaign
the restive northern Sinai comes ahead of the presi-
Peninsula, the epicenter dential election in March
of an Islamic insurgency in which President Abdel-
spearheaded by a local Fattah el-Sissi is running for
affiliate of the Islamic State a second four-year term
group. with no serious contenders.
The operation, announced El-Sissi was elected in 2014
in a televised statement by in a landslide with promises
army spokesman Col. Tam- of restoring security.
er el-Rifaai, began early Egypt has for years been
Friday and covers central struggling to contain an Is-
Sinai and areas in Egypt's This photo shows a deadly attack by militants on an Egyptian police checkpoint, Monday, Jan. 9, lamic insurgency in the tur-
Nile Delta and Western 2017, in el-Arish, north Sinai, Egypt. Arabic reads, "Clash with light arms with the remaining apos- bulent Sinai region. It has
Desert. He said the opera- tates left alive at the fire station checkpoint." Egypt's military says it has begun a major security carried out military opera-
tion is targeting "terrorist operation in areas including the restive northern Sinai Peninsula, where Islamic militants are most tions there that, it says, have
and criminal elements and active. killed hundreds of militants
organizations." There was (Islamic State Group in Sinai, via AP) and soldiers over the years.
no indication how long the that naval forces were de- Security officials said the the border with the Gaza Militant attacks have gen-
operation would last. ployed to cut off their sup- forces killed at least 20 mili- strip. They spoke on condi- erally surged since the 2013
In a subsequent statement, ply lines and that security tants in the north Sinai town tion of anonymity because military ouster of elected
el-Rifaai said the air force has been boosted around of Bir al-Abd. They added they were not authorized to Islamist President Moham-
carried out airstrikes on mili- the country's border cross- that militants are also being brief the media. med Morsi following mass
tant hideouts in north and ings, shipping routes and targeted south and west The operation began amid protests against his divisive
central Sinai. He added vital facilities. of the town of Rafah, on local media reports of one-year rule.q
Risking Israeli dispute, Lebanon signs deal with 3 oil firms

By ANDREA ROSA shore development on the Israeli statements, saying Lebanon has a debt of $80 reserves exist. Lebanon's
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon Israeli side. Lebanon and the area where the coun- billion or 145 percent of its Energy Minister Cesar Abi
signed Friday a deal with Israel are technically at war try plans to drill belongs to gross domestic product Khalil said the country will
an international consortium and both countries have Lebanon. The signing cere- making it one of the world's start exploratory offshore
to start exploratory offshore fought several wars over mony was held Friday after- highest. The agreement drilling for oil and gas next
drilling for oil and gas amid the past decades. noon in Beirut and was at- came two months after year. A major find in Leba-
tensions with Israel. Beirut Israel has in recent days es- tended by President Michel Lebanon's government ap- non's southernmost waters
hopes that oil and gas will calated its threats against Aoun and officials from the proved the licenses for the could raise the possibility of
help boost its struggling Lebanon over its invitation three oil companies — Ita- international consortium to a dispute with Israel, which
economy. Lebanon's For- for offshore gas explora- ly's Eni, France's Total and move forward with offshore is developing a number of
eign Minister Gibran Bassil tion bids on the countries' Russia's Novatek. "We have oil and gas development. offshore gas deposits, with
warned Israel not to try to maritime border claiming achieved a big dream and The three companies have one large field, Tamar, al-
hinder the drilling on the that Lebanon will be drilling Lebanon has entered a bid for two of Lebanon's 10 ready producing gas, and
Lebanese side saying that in areas owned by Israel. new era today," Aoun said offshore blocks, to deter- the larger Leviathan field
Beirut can also stop off- Lebanese officials deny the at the ceremony. mine whether oil and gas set to go online next year.q