Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

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WORLD NEWS Monday 11 deceMber 2017

World leaders congratulate Iraq on defeating IS

“Daesh no longer hold dis are believed to have fight against IS is conclud-
significant territory in Iraq joined the ranks of Sunni ed.
or Syria,” United Kingdom extremist groups to fight in “Much work remains, and
Prime Minister Theresa May Iraq and Syria. However, we will continue to work
said according to an of- the kingdom has also been by, with and through our
ficial statement released a target of multiple attacks Iraqi partners to ensure
by her office. “This signals claimed by IS and carried the enduring defeat of
a new chapter towards a out by local affiliates. Daesh and prevent its abil-
more peaceful, prosperous The top U.S.-led coalition ity to threaten civilization,
country.” commander U.S. Lt. Gen. regionally and globally,”
In Saudi Arabia’s statement Paul E. Funk II pledged that Funk said in a statement
Sunday, the kingdom reiter- coalition forces would con- released by the coalition
ated Saudi support for Iraq. tinue to support Iraq after Sunday. Daesh is an Arabic
Several thousand Sau- the conventional military acronym for IS.q

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi salutes security forces
during an Iraqi military parade in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec.
10, 2017. Al-Abadi formally announced the victory of hte military
over IS forces, in an address to the nation aired on Iraqi state
television Saturday evening.
(Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office pool via AP)
BAGHDAD (AP) — World in the more than three year
leaders congratulated Iraq fight against IS in a national
Sunday following the prime address aired on Iraqi state
minister’s declaration of television Saturday eve-
victory over the Islamic ning.
State group. Saudi Arabia Sunday was an official holi-
says the achievement is a day in Iraq. A military pa-
big victory against terrorism rade attended by al-Abadi
in the region and the Unit- was held inside Baghdad’s
ed Kingdom applauded fortified Green Zone — a
Iraq’s security forces “for district that houses most of
their courage and sacri- Iraq’s government build-
fice.” ings and foreign embassies.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider In the evening, the capital’s
al-Abadi declared victory skies filled with fireworks.
Israel says it destroyed Hamas

tunnel using new techniques

By JOSEF FEDERMAN der to destroy the tunnel.
Associated Press He said forces had de-
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Is- tected the tunnel months
raeli military on Sunday ago and continued to
said it has destroyed a tun- monitor construction ef-
nel built by the Hamas mili- forts by Hamas militants
tant group that stretched before demolishing it. Israel
from the Gaza Strip several has made neutralizing the
hundred meters (yards) tunnel threat a top prior-
into Israeli territory, declar- ity since that war, when
ing a breakthrough in its Hamas militants on sev-
war against underground eral occasions made their
threats from the Palestinian way into Israel. Although
enclave. Lt. Col. Jonathan they did not manage to
Conricus, a military spokes- reach civilian areas, the in-
man, told reporters that Is- filtrations caught Israel off
rael had used a new set of guard, killing five soldiers
“tools” developed since a in one attack, and terrified
2014 war with Hamas in or- the local population.q