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WORLD NEWSWednesday 21 October

Iraq says forces recapture refinery town from IS militants

Iraqi security forces stand guard after regaining control of Tamim district in southern Ramadi. give more details on the Iraqi launched a wide-scale
Teamed up with paramilitary forces, Iraqi government troops on Tuesday drove Islamic State mili- fighting and causalities. operation last week as the
tants out of a key oil refinery town north of Baghdad, a government spokesman said. State-run TV aired foot- second phase of an opera-
age of what it said was a tion to drive IS militants out
(AP Photo) residential area in Beiji. Sol- of Iraq’s central Salahuddin
diers could be seen waving province. The government
SINAN SALAHEDDIN State militants out of a key hya Rasool, told The Associ- Iraqi flags from rooftops as troops were backed by
Associated Press oil refinery town north of ated Press that the troops thick black smoke billowed paramilitary forces, made
BAGHDAD (AP) — Teamed Baghdad, a government imposed “full control” on into the air. The privately- up mainly of Shiite militia
up with paramilitary forces, spokesman said. the town, about 250 kilo- owned al-Sumaria satellite fighters. Filanowski and
Iraqi government troops The Joint Military Command meters (155 miles) north of channel showed troops other U.S. officials in Bagh-
on Tuesday drove Islamic spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ya- Baghdad. Rasool wouldn’t firing into the air in cel- dad, said there are about
ebration near demolished 15,000 Iraqi forces in the
buildings. The troops were Beiji area, including about
gathered around a famous 5,000 government soldiers
bearded militia fighter who and 10,000 members of the
refers to himself as Abu Az- miltias known as the popu-
rael, or the Father of the lar mobilization forces.
Angel of Death, saying his Speaking to reporters trav-
catchphrase “illa tahin” — eling to Iraq with Gen. Jo-
meaning he will crush the IS seph Dunford, chairman
militants like flour. of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
The IS group captured Beiji Filanowski added that the
and then parts of a nearby Iraqi forces, largely special
oil refinery — Iraq’s larg- operations troops, secured
est — during its blitz across the refinery’s perimeter
the country’s north in June and the power plant to
2014. The town and the re- the north, and are slowly
finery have been heavily moving toward the cen-
contested since then. Iraq ter of the refinery, clearing
announced that troops out enemy fighters and
had recaptured the entire encountering booby traps
refinery last week. and sniper fire.q

UN chief urges calm amid Palestinian-Israeli violence

IAN DEITCH high-profile gambit to bring almost daily Palestinian at- for Israelis and Palestinians. jamin Netanyahu Tuesday
Associated Press an end to a monthlong tacks against civilians and I am here in the hope that night.
JERUSALEM (AP) — U.N. wave of violence. soldiers, most of which we can work together to “I deplore the random at-
Secretary-General Ban Ki- The visit comes amid unrest have involved stabbings, end the violence, ease the tacks against civilians, such
moon called for calm dur- that erupted a month ago has caused panic across tensions and begin to re- terror attacks make every
ing a surprise visit to Jeru- over tensions surrounding Israel and raised fears that store a long term political place unsafe and every
salem on Tuesday ahead Jerusalem’s most sensitive the region is on the cusp of horizon of peace,” Ban said person regardless to gen-
of meetings with Israeli and holy site sacred to Jews a new round of bloodshed. at a press conference with der or age a potential vic-
Palestinian leaders, in a and Muslims. A spate of “These are difficult times Israeli Prime Minister Ben- tim,” he said.q