Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 23 august 2019

Clashing statements expose rift in Iraqi paramilitary force

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA speculation that it might be
Associated Press expanding its campaign to
BAGHDAD (AP) — The head target Iranian bases to Iraq.
of Iraq’s paramilitary forces Israel has neither confirmed
supported by Iran on Thurs- nor denied the reports and
day walked back a state- the Iraqi government has
ment by his deputy the day remained mostly mute.
before in which he blamed On Wednesday, the state-
Israeli drones and held the ment signed by al-Mu-
U.S. responsible for a series handis broke the silence,
of attacks on bases run by blaming the attacks, which
the militias. it said were carried out by
Faleh al-Fayyadh said the Israeli drones, on the Ameri-
statement by his deputy, cans and vowing to defend
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, itself against future attack.
did not represent the view The statement, which ap-
of the mainly Shiite militias pears to have been issued
known as Popular Mobiliza- without prior consultation
tion Forces — or the view with Iraqi security forces,
of the Iraqi government. was met with silence from
Al-Fayyadh’s statement al- official circles that went on
leged the attacks on the for hours— an embarrass-
bases over the past weeks ing sign of how the militias
“were the result of an act operate independently.
organized by a foreign Al-Muhandis, who once
side,” but refrained from In this Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 file photo, plumes of smoke rise after an explosion at a military base battled U.S. troops in Iraq,
naming that side. southwest of Baghdad, Iraq. also commands the feared
The statements highlight Associated Press Hezbollah Brigades faction,
divisions within the paramili- the capital, foiling its spying Iraq hosts American troops was obtained by The As- which has close ties to Iran
tary force, which is headed mission. It did not elabo- and forces belonging to sociated Press on Wednes- and is on a U.S. list of desig-
by al-Fayyadh but prac- rate. Iraq’s fragile govern- the U.S.-led coalition fight- day, found the blast near nated terrorists.
tically run by his deputy, ment is walking a fine line ing IS. Baghdad was caused by a In a marked escalation in
a powerful military com- trying to manage its alli- The statements by al-Fayy- drone strike. rhetoric, the Brigades is-
mander known for his anti- ances with both the United adh and al-Muhandis fol- American officials denied sued a fiery statement
American sentiments. The States and Iran amid rising lowed at least three mys- the U.S. had any role in the later Thursday warning the
militia group’s website pub- tensions between the two. terious explosions at militia explosions. U.S. that any new attack
lished only al-Muhandis’ Iran wields powerful influ- bases and munitions depot The blast has also given on an Iraqi position will be
statement on Thursday. ence through its support of around Iraq over the past rise to a host of theories, met with a harsh response.
Later on Thursday, the Pop- the militias, which are sanc- month, including a mas- including that Israel may “And be sure that if the
ular Mobilization Forces, tioned by the Iraqi gov- sive blast near Baghdad have been behind the at- confrontation between us
or PMF, claimed its air de- ernment and which were that killed one civilian and tacks. Israel has struck Ira- starts, it will only end with
fenses targeted a recon- a major force in the fight wounded 28 on August nian bases in neighboring your removal from the re-
naissance drone flying over against the Islamic State 12. A government inves- Syria on numerous occa- gion once and for all,” it
one of its headquarters in group. At the same time, tigation, a copy of which sions, and there has been said.q

Lightning strikes Polish and Slovak mountains, killing 5

By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA feet) high, and in other lo- Rescuers with the Polish
Associated Press cations across the Tatras. Tatra emergency service,
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The Tatras, part of the Car- known as TOPR, were dis-
Lighting struck several lo- pathian mountain range, patched to the Giewont
cations across the Tatra are the highest mountains peak in the early afternoon
Mountains in southern Po- in Poland and in Slovakia after being notified that a
land and neighboring Slo- and attract tourists from group of people, includ-
vakia on Thursday, killing near and far with their soar- ing children, had been
five people, including two ing peaks and scenic lakes. struck by lightning there.
children, and injuring doz- Krakow province gover- TOPR chief Jan Krzysztof
ens more. nor, Piotr Cwik, told report- said people were struck at
Witnesses said the thunder- ers that two children were other locations, too. TOPR
storm came suddenly on a among the dead. The num- said it believes the lightning
day that began with clear ber of those hurt could still probably hit metal chains
weather. Four people were rise, as people were still be- installed on the peak to aid
killed on the Polish side and ing brought from various tourists in their climb.
one in Slovakia. Rescue helicopter have brought to hospital the first people places in the mountains, Footage on TVN24 showed
injured by a lighting that struck Poland’s southern Tatra
Some of the injured were Mountains during a sudden thunderstorm, in Zakopane, Poland, Cwik said. rescuers racing to a heli-
brought by helicopter to on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019. Slovak rescue service said copter to get to the peak,
the hospital in the Polish Associated Press that a Czech tourist fell in wet, rainy and foggy
mountain resort town of Za- ambulance service, Kinga Giewont peak, a trekking down hundreds of meters weather and then a he-
kopane while others were Czerwinska, told the news destination popular among (yards) and was killed after licopter landing at the
taken elsewhere, a spokes- broadcaster TVN24. Polish and foreign tourists lightning knocked him off hospital in Zakopane with
woman for the Polish air The lightning hit the that is 1,894 meters (6,214 the Banikov peak. those hurt. q