Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 19 sepTember 2017
Israel and US open first American military base in Israel

By YANIV ZOHAR veloped a multilayered rael is better prepared. It’s commingled. the country’s nuclear am-
Associated Press system of defenses against a message that says Israel Israel’s multi-tier missile de- bitions, its development of
BISLACH AIR BASE, Israel everything from long-range is improving the response fense system includes the long-term missiles, hostile
(AP) — guided missile attacks from to threats,” said Brig. Gen. Arrow, designed to inter- anti-Israel rhetoric and sup-
Israel and the U.S. inaugu- Iran to crude rockets fired Zvika Haimovich, the com- cept long-range ballistic port for anti-Israel militant
rated the first American mil- from Lebanon and the mander of Israel’s aerial missiles in the stratosphere groups. Israel has grown
itary base on Israeli soil on Gaza Strip. defense. with an eye on Iran, and increasingly concerned
Monday, which will serve The base’s opening is The base is located within Iron Dome, which defends about Iran’s involvement
dozens of soldiers operat- largely symbolic and isn’t an existing Israeli air force against short-range rockets in the civil war in neighbor-
ing a missile defense sys- expected to bring opera- base and will operate un- from the Gaza Strip. Da- ing Syria, where its troops
tem. tional changes. der Israeli military directives. vid’s Sling is meant to coun- are supporting President
The move comes at a time But the Israeli military says Israeli and U.S. military of- ter the type of medium- Bashar Assad.
of growing Israeli concerns that along with other mea- ficials cut a ribbon at the range missiles possessed by Israel is worried that Iran
about archenemy Iran’s sures, it sends a message base Monday, where the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its proxy Hezbollah will
development of long- of readiness to Israel’s en- American and Israeli flags militants. establish a long-term pres-
range missiles. Together emies. flew side by side and sol- Israel considers Iran to be ence in Syria near the Israeli
with the U.S., Israel has de- “It’s a message that says Is- diers from both countries its greatest threat, citing border.q
Syrian troops battling IS cross river toward US-backed force

By SARAH EL DEEB Iraq. Many oil fields, includ-
Associated Press ing al-Omar, Syria’s largest,
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops are scattered on the east-
battling the Islamic State ern bank.
group crossed to the east- The U.S.-backed offensive
ern bank of the Euphra- is focused on the Iraq bor-
tes River in Deir el-Zour on der area, which is still con-
Monday, threatening a trolled by IS. Washington
potential standoff with the fears that further advances
U.S.-backed forces operat- by pro-government forces
ing there. could help Iran expand its
But the U.S.-led coalition influence across the region
spokesman downplayed via a land bridge stretch-
concerns, saying both ad- ing through Iraq, Syria and
vancing forces are main- Lebanon, all the way to Is-
taining lines of communi- rael.
cation to avoid conflict. Iran is a key ally of Assad,
Spokesman for the U.S.-led and has provided financial
coalition Col. Ryan Dillon and logistical support to his
told The Associated Press forces throughout the six-
that the top commander year civil war.
of the U.S.-backed Syr- Dillon said the government
ian forces has maintained In this Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 photo Russian military helicopter flies over a desert in Deir es-Zor prov- forces have advanced
“open lines” of commu- ince, Syria. A U.S.-backed force in Syria said a Russian airstrike wounded six of its fighters Saturday “quickly” to seize Deir el-
near the eastern city of Deir el-Zour while in southeast Syria, Syrian troops and their Iran-backed
nication and discussions allies began a new offensive aiming to capture areas along the Iraq border under the cover of Zour city, but it remains to
with his counterpart in Russian airstrikes. be seen if they “have what
the Syrian government to (AP Photo) it takes” to hold the newly
avoid friction. This is the Dillon said “de-confliction” Dillon’s comments came ter the SDF said its fighters liberated territories. He said
first sign of direct contact talks with Russia have in- after Syrian troops crossed were hit by Russian airstrikes the U.S.-backed fighters
between the U.S.-backed creased in frequency, as to the eastern side of the on the eastern bank of the have no intention advanc-
Syrian Democratic Forces well as at different op- Euphrates river that runs river. ing on the city.The crossing
and the forces of Syrian erational levels, to avoid along Deir el-Zour city, Russia denied it was behind tightens the government’s
President Bashar Assad, as ground friction as the forc- where the SDF have been the airstrikes. grip on the city by closing
the race for control of the es “converge and have a waging their separate of- Both sides are seeking to in on the militants from all
oil-rich province picks up common goal together” to fensive against IS. The expand their control of the sides, except for a narrow
speed. fight IS. crossing came two days af- oil-rich province bordering waterway flowing south. q
Iraq’s top court suspends Kurdish region’s independence vote

By QASSIM ZAHRA dad released a statement controversial referendum not immediately clear if the ers see the truth of this deci-
SUSANNAH GEORGE saying it “ssued a national and on Sept 14 the law- local government in the sion,” Salah Alwan, adviser
Associated Press order to suspend the refer- makers voted to dismiss semi-autonomous Kurd- to the chairman of Iraq’s
BAGHDAD (AP) — endum procedures ... until the ethnically mixed Kirkuk ish region would abide by parliament in Baghdad
Iraq’s top court on Monday the resolution of the cases province’s Kurdish gover- Mondays’ court ruling. said Monday. “It is clearly
temporarily suspended the regarding the constitution- nor who supports the refer- The vote was due on Sept. the chairman’s position
northern Kurdish region’s ality of said decision.” endum. 25 in the three provinces that Iraq stay an undivided,
referendum on indepen- The move is just the latest Despite strong opposition that make up the region, as single country.”
dence that’s due next in a number of rulings from from Baghdad, regional well as disputed territories Haidar Mawla, a Shiite par-
week, a decision that put Iraq’s central government leaders and the United claimed by both the Kurd- liamentarian in Baghdad
further pressure on the Iraqi attempting to stop the States — a key ally of Iraq’s ish region and Baghdad. said regardless of whether
Kurds to call off the contro- vote. Kurds — Kurdish officials “The decision today by the it is carried out, he doesn’t
versial vote. On Sept 12 Iraq’s parlia- have continued to pledge court is very clear. believe the vote will hold
The Supreme Court in Bagh- ment voted to reject the the vote will be held. It is We hope our Kurdish broth- strong significance. q