Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 23 January 2018

Fighting rages amid Turkish push in Kurdish enclave in Syria

By MEHMET GUZEL as the People’s Defense
BASSEM MROUE Units or YPG, who have
Associated Press been the key U.S. military
HASSA, Turkey (AP) — In- ally in battling the Islamic
tense fighting flared Mon- State in Syria. Turkey con-
day as Turkish troops and siders the YPG a terrorist
their allies advanced on a group because of its ties to
Kurdish enclave in north- its own Kurdish insurgency.
western Syria, the third day Mattis said Ankara gave
of Ankara’s offensive to the U.S. military advance
oust a U.S.-allied Kurdish mi- notice of its Afrin offensive.
litia from the area, accord- The U.S. has offered direct
ing to the militia and a war military and logistical sup-
monitoring group. port to a Kurdish-led group
Skirmishes between Turkish known as the Syrian Demo-
troops and Kurdish fighters cratic Forces that spear-
also broke out farther east headed the fight against IS
in Syria, threatening to wid- in Syria. With the near total
en the scope of the new defeat of IS in both Syria and
front in the Syrian war that Iraq, the U.S. said it would
pits Turkey against Wash- create a 30,000-strong bor-
ington’s main ally in the der force of existing Kurdish
region. The Turkish ground and Arab SDF members to
and air offensive on Afrin, ensure there would be no IS
codenamed “Operation comeback.
Olive Branch,” began Sat- Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army fighters shout slogans before heading towards the Syrian border, That announcement has
in Kirikhan, Turkey, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. Turkish troops and Syrian opposition forces attacked
urday, raising tensions in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria on Sunday in their bid to drive from the region a U.S.-allied outraged Turkey, and Sec-
the already-complicated Kurdish militia, which responded with a hail of rockets on Turkish towns that killed at least one retary of State Rex Tillerson
Syrian conflict and threat- refugee. has tried to walk back the
ening to further strain ties (Furkan Arslanoglu/Depo Photos via AP) U.S. position, saying it was
between Turkey and the tion. It said a soldier was terrorism and has the right U.S. Defense Secretary Jim portrayed incorrectly. The
U.S., both NATO allies. Tur- killed in cross-border raid. to self-defense but urged Mattis said Turkey has “le- U.S. focus in recent years
key says it aims to create a The U.N. Security Council Ankara to do so in a “pro- gitimate security concerns” has been on eastern Syria.
30-kilometer (20-mile) deep was scheduled to convene portionate and measured about Syria. Speaking to The area west of the Eu-
“secure zone” in Afrin, the later Monday to discuss the way.” NATO also said it has reporters traveling with him phrates River, including
Kurdish-controlled enclave situation. no presence in Syria but Sunday to Indonesia, he Afrin, has been more of
on its border. A NATO statement said it that as members of the said diplomats are work- a problem for the U.S. be-
The Turkish military an- has contacted Turkey over anti-Islamic State coalition, ing on a solution to Turkey’s cause Turkey had said it
nounced late Monday its the offensive. NATO said “our focus is on the defeat” confrontation with the Syr- would not accept a Kurdish
first fatality to the opera- Turkey has suffered from of the extremists. ian Kurdish fighters, known military presence there.q

Saudi Arabia announces $1.5B in aid for Yemen

By AYA BATRAWY expansion of additional said that it would also al-
Associated Press Yemeni ports” to receive locate up to $30 million to
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- cargo and humanitarian cover transportation costs
ates (AP) — Saudi Arabia assistance, ensure multiple of non-humanitarian ship-
on Monday announced daily flights of cargo planes ments intended for the port
$1.5 billion in new aid for carrying aid from Saudi of Hodeida, in rebel-held
Yemen, where nearly three Arabia to Yemen’s Marib territory, to “their intended
years of conflict have dev- province, and establish destination in Yemen.”
astated the local economy “safe passage corridors” The announcement comes
and pushed millions to the to ensure transportation of amid mounting internation-
brink of famine, causing aid to non-governmental al criticism of the Saudi-led
what the United Nations In this April 13, 2017 photo, Yemenis present documents in order organizations operating in- coalition’s role in the war,
describes as the world’s to receive food rations provided by a local charity, in Sanaa, side Yemen. particularly civilian deaths
worst humanitarian crisis. Yemen. Saudi Arabia on Monday announced $1.5 billion in The expansion of ports will caused by airstrikes as well
The kingdom said Monday new aid for Yemen, where nearly three years of conflict have be supported with up to as coalition control of Ye-
the coalition it heads in Ye- devastated the local economy and pushed millions to the brink $40 million from the Saudi- men’s ports, which are a
men would also “lead the of famine. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) led coalition. The coalition lifeline for imports. q