Page 9 - atoday

WORLD NEWS 9
Monday 7 March 2016

Afghan president: Islamic State Civilians and security forces gather as municipality workers remove destroyed vehicles at the
being wiped out in Afghanistan scene of a deadly suicide bomb attack in Hillah, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) south of Baghdad,
Iraq, Sunday, March 6, 2016.
RAHIM FAIEZ
Associated Press (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s President
Ashraf Ghani said on Sunday that the Islamic State Suicide attack kills dozens south of Baghdad
group has been defeated in the eastern parts of the
country, where it had taken over some remote dis- A. AL-FITLAWI week, and although there rose from smoldering cars
tricts. S. SALAHEDDIN was no immediate claim of that had been lined up at
Speaking at the opening of parliament, Ghani said Associated Press responsibility, it appeared the main checkpoint at
Afghan forces had dislodged IS loyalists from regions HILLAH, Iraq (AP) — A sui- to be part of a campaign the northern entrance to
of Nangarhar province bordering Pakistan. cide bomber rammed his by the Islamic State group the city of Hillah, located
“Afghanistan will be their graveyard,” he said in an explosives-laden fuel truck to stage attacks deep be- about 95 kilometers (60
address broadcast live on national television. into a security checkpoint hind front lines in order to miles) south of Baghdad.
IS has had a presence in Afghanistan for more than south of Baghdad on Sun- wreak havoc and force the “The blast has completely
a year. Officials have said most militants calling them- day, killing at least 47 peo- government to overextend destroyed the checkpoint
selves IS are disaffected Taliban fighters. ple and wounding dozens, its forces. and its buildings,” Falah
Afghan forces have claimed victory following a 21- officials said. Crowds gathered at the al-Khafaji, a senior security
day operation in the Achin and Shinwar districts of It was the third massive scene, picking through rub- official in Hillah, said as he
Nangarhar, claiming at least 200 militants killed, a bombing in and around ble and twisted car parts in stood at the edge of the
provincial official told The Associated Press. Baghdad in a little over a search of survivors. Smoke blast site.
Achin and Shinwar are among a number of districts in
the remote mountainous regions along the Pakistan
border that were overtaken by IS loyalists in recent
months. Operations against the militants included air-
strikes to destroy bases and a radio station that was
broadcasting IS recruitment messages across Nan-
garhar province. The radio station was destroyed,
along with at least seven militants, on Feb. 1.
“The aim of the operation in Nangarhar was to root
out IS from the area,” said Afghan Army Lt. Col. Sharin
Aqa, a spokesman for the 201 Corps.
The operation was aided by local residents who set up
checkpoints to help maintain security in their villages.
These so-called “local uprisings” had supplemented
the Afghan forces, which have been stretched since
the drawdown in 2014 of the international combat
mission, he said. The Afghan government is attempt-
ing to end the war on its territory with hopes of draw-
ing the Taliban into a dialogue and eventual peace
talks.