Page 8 - ATODAY

A8

world NEWSThursday 10 December 2015

Iraqis eye next steps in Ramadi as IS claims bombing Turkey defends
additional troops
QASSIM ZAHRA tacked a Shiite mosque, Press on Wednesday the reporters Wednesday from
SUSANNAH GEORGE
deployed in Iraq killing at least 11 people neighborhood is the back- the U.S. Embassy in Bagh-

Associated Press and wounding 20 Wednes- bone of the IS group’s dad. AYSE WIETING
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi day, an assault that was structure in Ramadi. The fall of Ramadi was SUZAN FRASER
forces were preparing to promptly claimed by IS. The troops’ advances on the biggest blow to Iraqi ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s
push further into the center Interior Ministry spokesman Tuesday were the most forces since IS captured prime minister on Wednes-
of the Islamic State-held Brig. Gen. Saad Maan said significant incursion into Iraq’s second largest city day defended the coun-
of Mosul in the summer of try’s deployment of ad-
Iraqi security forces take combat positions at the front-line with Islamic State group militants as 2014. The government an- ditional forces to Iraq last
Iraqi Army and allied Sunni volunteer tribal fighters supported by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes on nounced a counteroffen- week, saying it was an “act
Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s Anbar province, 70 miles west of Baghdad, Iraq. sive shortly after Ramadi’s of solidarity” with Iraq’s
fall, but progress has been fight against the Islamic
(AP Photo/Osama Sami) sluggish. State group.
McGurk cautioned that Turkey has stationed troops
city of Ramadi as the Sunni the attacker detonated Ramadi since the city fell further advances may at a base outside Mosul
militant group claimed re- his bomb in the mosque to IS in May. There largest also be slow going. “These since last year as part of
sponsibility for a suicide doorway as worshippers obstacle going forward is things take time, Ramadi a training mission coordi-
bombing in Baghdad were leaving after midday crossing the Euphrates Riv- is a very difficult environ- nated with the Iraqi gov-
that killed 11 people on prayers. er north of the city and its ment,” he said, adding ernment in Baghdad. The
Wednesday. The IS’ claim came in a Warar tributary to the west. that it took U.S. forces six arrival of additional Turkish
Backed by U.S.-led air- statement circulated on- Since overrunning Ramadi, months to “take and sta- forces last week, however,
strikes, the Iraqi troops have line by its supporters. It the Islamic State group has bilize Ramadi” from al- sparked uproar in the Iraqi
struggled to roll back Islam- bore the group’s logo and destroyed all the bridges Qaida, the Islamic State’s capital.
ic State gains since the mili- resembled previous claims around the city. It also de- precursor. Iraqi officials gave Turkey a
tants seized large swaths issued by the extremists. IS molished the Anbar op- “Daesh is now resorting to 48-hour deadline to with-
of the country’s north and has repeatedly targeted erations command and holding the center of the draw additional troops
west, along with territories Iraq’s Shiite majority, who fanned out into the city’s city while taking human and Turkey declared it had
in neighboring Syria, in the the Sunni extremists view as residential areas to set up shields as hostages,” Mc- halted the new deploy-
summer of 2014. apostates. less conspicuous centers of Gurk added, referring to IS ment. Iraq’s U.N. Ambas-
Progress in Iraq’s vast An- In Anbar, Maj. Gen. Ismail command. by its Arabic language ac- sador Mohamed Alhakim
bar province, west of Bagh- al-Mahlawi, the head of “When Ramadi fell in May, ronym. told reporters in New York
dad, has been particularly Iraqi military operations it was the last time we saw Ramadi residents have re- on Tuesday that Baghdad
slow, but on Tuesday, Iraqi in the province, said his Daesh take offensive ac- ported that IS controlled and Ankara were working
forces seized an IS opera- troops were readying to tion here in Iraq in any sort checkpoints in the city to solve the dispute bilat-
tions center and the strate- push “toward the govern- of concerted way,” said have prevented many erally and “I think it’s go-
gical Tamim neighborhood ment complex and the Brett McGurk, the official in from fleeing. Estimates of ing very well.” Turkish Prime
on the outskirts of the city. Houz area” in central Ra- charge of the U.S.-led co- civilians remaining in the Minister Ahmet Davuto-
In Baghdad, meanwhile, madi. alition against the Islamic city range anywhere from glu told a group of foreign
a suicide bomber at- He told The Associated State group, speaking to 4,000 to 10,000. reporters in Istanbul on
Al-Mahlawi, the Iraqi com- Wednesday that the ad-
mander in Anbar, said co- ditional troops were sent to
alition and Iraqi aircraft protect the trainers amid
contributed significantly an increased threat from
to the operation, open- the Islamic State group.
ing “the way before we “This is not an act of aggres-
sent combat units in.” The sion but an act of solidar-
warplanes “inflicted heavy ity,” Davutoglu said. “Our
losses on” IS militants, de- intention is to protect these
stroying both “equipment trainers. “ Asked about
and their spirits.” Baghdad’s request to with-
Muhannad Haimour, the draw the troops, Davuto-
spokesman for the Anbar glu said: “When we saw
governor’s office, said he’s the reaction we stopped
receiving reports that the IS the transfer . but we can-
organization inside Ramadi not leave these trainers
is collapsing.q without protection.” On

Police: Palestinian killed after stabbing 2 Israelis Wednesday, Turkey issued
a warning advising its citi-

zens to avoid unnecessary

JERUSALEM (AP) — A Pales- stabbings have come from car opened fire on them in 109 Palestinians have died travel to or within Iraq and

tinian stabbed and serious- there. Tensions are high in the West Bank. The military in the latest violence, in- urging vigilance. It cited in-

ly wounded two Israelis in the city where about 850 said forces were searching cluding 74 said by Israel to creased threats to Turkish

the West Bank on Wednes- Israeli settlers live in heav- the area for the assailant. be attackers. The remain- interests in the country. The

day before he was shot ily-guarded enclaves sur- Wednesday’s incidents der died in clashes with warning, however, didn’t

and killed by Israeli security rounded by tens of thou- were the latest in a three security forces. Israel says comprise regions within the

forces at the scene, police sands of Palestinians. Much month-long outburst of the violence is fanned by Kurdish Regional Govern-

said. of the animosity is over a Israeli-Palestinian violence a Palestinian campaign ment. Earlier, the Turkish

The incident occurred key holy site, sacred to that has shown no signs of of lies and incitement. The military said it has carried

near the city of Hebron, a both Jews and Muslims. relenting. Palestinians say it is the re- out aerial raids on suspect-

frequent flashpoint for vio- Later Wednesday, the mili- Since mid-September, 19 sult of frustrations stemming ed Kurdish rebel sites in a

lence. Many of the Pales- tary said two Israelis were Israelis have been killed in from Israel’s nearly 50-year new cross-border offensive

tinians involved in recent wounded when a passing Palestinian attacks. At least occupation.q in northern Iraq.q