Síntesis informativa - 21 de enero 2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Described as Defeated, Islamic State Punches Back With Guerrilla Tactics
For three years, terrorists controlled a huge stretch of territory in Iraq and Syria. They ran their own state, collecting tens of millions of dollars in taxes and using the proceeds to fix potholes, issue birth certificates, finance attacks and recruit followers from around the world.
All but 1 percent of that territory is now gone, which has prompted the White House to describe the Islamic State as “wiped out,” “absolutely obliterated” and “in its final throes.” But to suggest that ISIS was defeated, as President Trump did when he announced plans to pull out American troops from Syria, is to ignore the lessons of recent history.
The group has been declared vanquished before, only to prove politicians wrong and to rise stronger than before.
Al Qaeda Claims U.N. Peacekeeper Attack That Killed 10 in Mali
A branch of Al Qaeda in northwestern Africa claimed responsibility for an attack on a United Nations base in Mali that killed 10 Chadian peacekeepers on Sunday, saying it was in response to Chad’s resumption of diplomatic relations with Israel.
In a statement, the United Nations mission in Mali said that a peacekeeping base had come under attack in the northeastern village of Aguelhok. The village is in one of the most troubled regions of the country, which has repeatedly been in the cross hairs of a jihadist insurgency.
“Early this morning,” the statement said, “the blue helmets of the Minusma” — the peacekeeping mission in Mali — “fought off a complex attack launched by assailants who arrived aboard a convoy of numerous vehicles.”
Besides the 10 peacekeepers killed, 25 were wounded.
Israel Confirms Attacks on Iranian Targets in Syria
JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said on Monday that it had attacked Iranian military targets in Syria, capping an exchange of blows in a rare, direct confrontation between the two antagonists that risks escalating the fight over Iran’s military entrenchment in Syria.
Israeli military officials said the latest strikes, most likely the broadest wave in months, were in retaliation for Iranian forces launching a surface-to-surface missile from the Damascus area on Sunday toward the northern part of the Israeli-held Golan Heights. They said that the missile had endangered a ski resort and other areas where civilians were present, but that it had been successfully intercepted by Israel’s air defenses.
The Iranian missile, in turn, was fired shortly after a strike against a weapons store in Syria, for which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel strongly hinted that his country was responsible.
Israel’s acknowledgment of its strikes reflect a shift in policy, with the country increasingly taking responsibility for specific attacks in Syrian territory after years of ambiguity.
Taliban Strike Deadly Blow Against Afghan Intelligence Agency
KABUL, Afghanistan — At least 40 Afghans working for the country’s intelligence agency were killed Monday in a militant assault on their base in Wardak Province, officials said, making it one of the single deadliest attacks against the agency in the 17-year war with the Taliban.
Akhtar Mohammad Khan Tahiri, the head of Wardak’s provincial council, said the target was a training center for pro-government militia members run by the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s intelligence agency.
The Taliban immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The group’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said its fighters had detonated an armored Humvee full of explosives that “destroyed large parts of the base,” on the outskirts of the city of Maidan Shahar, before other suicide bombers arrived to raid the facility.
Venezuela Detains National Guards Accused of Turning on Maduro
CARACAS, Venezuela — Members of the Venezuelan National Guard were detained in the capital early Monday, the military said, after online videos showed a group of soldiers pledging allegiance to an opposition leader seeking to oust President Nicolás Maduro.
The soldiers’ apparent defiance at a military installation in the western Caracas neighborhood of Cotiza occurred days after opposition leaders offered amnesty to members of the armed forces who turned their backs on the government and helped establish a transitional government that would convene fair elections.
The United States and several governments in the region have backed the opposition’s plan, but leaders of the movement acknowledge that getting the armed forces to flip will be the toughest hurdle.
It was not immediately clear how many service members were taken into custody after security forces surrounded the military installation. Neighbors reported hearing clashes as nearby residents banged pots and pans, apparently in a show of support for the mutinous troops.
Bombing in Syria Targets U.S.-Led Military Patrol
BEIRUT, Lebanon — A car bombing targeted a joint American-Kurdish patrol in Syria on Monday, injuring a number of fighters from a Kurdish-led force allied with the United States, and the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
The explosion came just five days after at least 15 people, including four Americans, were killed in a suicide bombing by the Islamic State in Manbij, Syria, which is controlled and protected by American-backed local forces.
Coming only weeks after President Trump ordered American troops to withdraw from Syria, the attacks serve as a reminder that the Islamic State, while controlling just a small fraction of the territory it once had, remains capable of striking in what was considered relatively safe territory.
American Airstrike in Somalia Kills 52 Shabab Extremists, U.S. Military Says
JOHANNESBURG — The American military on Saturday said it had carried out its deadliest airstrike in Somalia in months, killing 52 Shabab extremists after a “large group” mounted an attack on Somali forces.
The United States Africa Command said the airstrike occurred near Jilib, a town not far from the East African coast, in the Middle Juba region. There were no reports of Americans killed or wounded.
The statement did not say whether any Somali forces were killed or wounded by the extremists, who are linked to Al Qaeda. The Shabab, via its Shahada news agency, asserted that its attack on two Somali army bases killed at least 41 soldiers. It described the location as the Bar Sanjuni area near the port city of Kismayo.
There was no immediate comment from Somalia’s government.
The Shabab controls large parts of rural southern and central Somalia and continues to carry out suicide bombings and other attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, and elsewhere.
DEUTSCHE WELLE
Fuerza Aérea iraní se dice preparada para "eliminar de la Tierra" a Israel
El primer ministro israelí, Benjamin Netanyahu, devuelve la amenaza, a horas de bombardear objetivos iraníes en Siria.
El comandante de la Fuerza Aérea de Irán, el general Aziz Nasirzadeh, aseguró este lunes (21.01.2019) que sus efectivos están preparados para "eliminar de la Tierra" a Israel, horas después de que ese país bombardeara objetivos iraníes en Siria.
El primer ministro, Benjamin Netanyahu, por su parte, afirmó entretanto que los ataques aéreos de Israel contra Siria se dirigieron este lunes principalmente contra las posiciones militares establecidas por Irán, que advirtió que enfrentarían las consecuencias por amenazar con destruir a Israel.
Erdogan garantiza a Trump su control sobre la ciudad siria de Manbech
Ambos mandatarios mantuvieron una conversación telefónica en la que el presidente turco expresó sus condolencias al jefe de la Casa Blanca, por la pérdida de vidas estadounidenses en el atentado del miércoles en Manbech.
El presidente turco, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ha asegurado a su homólogo estadounidense, Donald Trump, que su país está preparado para garantizar la seguridad en la región de Manbech (también transcrita como Manbiy, Manbij o Mambich), en el norte de Siria, de donde las tropas estadounidenses planean retirarse, informó el diario Hürriyet.
Manbech, situada al oeste del río Éufrates, está desde el verano de 2016 bajo control de una coalición de grupos armados locales, coordinada por las milicias Unidades de Defensa del Pueblo (YPG), que reciben respaldo y armas de Estados Unidos.
Ankara considera terroristas a las YPG, por sus vínculos con el proscrito Partido de Trabajadores de Kurdistán (PKK), la guerrilla kurda activa en Turquía, y ha pedido reiteradamente a Washington que cese todo su apoyo y permita a Turquía expulsarlas del noreste de Siria, hasta ahora sin éxito.
XINHUA
Trump y Erdogan conversan por teléfono sobre Siria y relación comercial
WASHINGTON, 20 ene (Xinhua) -- El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, discutió el domingo por teléfono con su homólogo turco, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, la tensión actual en Siria y los lazos bilaterales, dijo la Casa Blanca.
Los dos líderes "acordaron continuar promoviendo una solución negociada para el noreste de Siria que atienda a nuestros respectivos problemas en materia de seguridad," indicó en un comunicado la Casa Blanca.
Trump y Erdogan también hablaron sobre "el interés mutuo en expandir la relación comercial," agregó la nota oficial.
La inestabilidad en Siria ha aumentado en las últimas semanas después de que EEUU decidiese retirar a sus tropas del país y de la muerte de cuatro estadounidenses en un atentado reivindicado por el grupo extremista Estado Islámico (EI).
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/21/c_137761626.htm
Israel lanza ataques contra objetivos iraníes en Siria
JERUSALEN, 21 ene (Xinhua) -- El ejército de Israel anunció a primeras horas del lunes que ha lanzado ataques contra objetivos iraníes dentro Siria y desaconsejó a las fuerzas sirias dañar territorios o fuerzas israelíes,
Los ataques, que se iniciaron por la noche, llegan luego de los incidentes fronterizos del domingo.
Las fuerzas armadas israelíes aseguraron haber interceptado un cohete lanzado desde Siria, mientras Damasco señaló que había repelido un ataque aéreo israelí contra el sur del país.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/21/c_137761641.htm
Defensa aérea siria intercepta misiles israelíes sobre Damasco
DAMASCO, 21 ene (Xinhua) -- La defensa aérea siria respondió a los intensos ataques israelíes a primeras horas de este lunes y destruyó la mayoría de los misiles antes de que alcanzaran sus objetivos, informó la televisión estatal del país árabe.
Los ataques israelíes se llevaron a cabo desde el espacio aéreo libanés y los territorios controlados por Israel en Galilea, detalló la televisión, que citó a una fuente militar.
Periodistas de Xinhua en Damasco vieron el impacto de los misiles sirios en sus blancos, acompañado del sonido de las explosiones.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/21/c_137761728.htm
Tratado de misiles Rusia-EEUU evita nueva carrera armamentista, dice ministro alemán
MOSCU, 18 ene (Xinhua) -- Preservar el Tratado las Fuerzas Nucleares de Alcance Intermedio (INF, por sus siglas en inglés) entre Rusia y Estados Unidos podría evitar una nueva carrera armamentista, dijo hoy en Moscú el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Alemania, Heiko Maas.
Moscú y Washington se han acusado mutuamente de violar el histórico Tratado INF firmado entre Estados Unidos y la entonces Unión Soviética en 1987.
Estados Unidos acusa a Rusia de negarse a destruir el sistema de misiles 9M729, el cual afirma que viola el pacto. Por su parte, Rusia insiste en que los misiles tienen un alcance menor a los 500-5.500 kilómetros estipulados por el acuerdo.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/19/c_137755791.htm
China lanza dos satélites para tomar imágenes multiespectrales
JIUQUAN, 21 ene (Xinhua) -- China lanzó hoy lunes a las 13:42 dos satélites para tomar imágenes multiespectrales en un cohete Gran Marcha-11 desde el Centro de Lanzamiento de Satélites de Jiuquan, ubicado en el noroeste de China.
Los satélites han entrado con éxito en su órbita preestablecida, de acuerdo con el centro.
Forman parte de la familia de satélites Jilin-1 y fueron desarrollados de forma independiente por la empresa Chang Guang Satellite Technology.
Cargados con un generador de imágenes multiespectrales y una cámara de infrarrojos, formarán una red con los 10 satélites Jilin-1 lanzados anteriormente y proporcionarán datos y servicios de detección remota para silvicultura, envíos, recursos y monitoreo ambiental.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/21/c_137762625.htm
AL JAZEERA
Israeli army says it hit Iranian targets in Syria
Unusual Israeli confirmation of military action comes as Syria says most missiles were shot down by its air defences.
The threat of direct confrontation between archenemies Israel and Iran has long simmered in Syria, where the Iranian military built a presence early in the civil war to help President Bashar al-Assad fight rebels seeking to overthrow him.
Israel, regarding Iran as its biggest threat, has repeatedly attacked Iranian targets in Syria and those of allied militia, including Lebanon's Hezbollah without claiming responsibility for the attacks.
But with an election approaching, and with the United States vowing more action against Iran, Israel's government has lifted the lid on attacks it once preferred to keep quiet, and has also taken a tougher stance towards Hezbollah on the border with Lebanon.
Brexit: After humiliating defeat, Theresa May to present plan B
As the UK heads towards Brexit, prime minister to attempt getting her deal approved by MPs again.
Gavin O’Toole.- On Monday, she is expected to discuss one of the central Brexit issues - the Irish backstop. British media reported late on Sunday that she might suggest dropping the safety net provision to appease critics.
Within the withdrawal agreement, the backstop prevents a hard border being erected between Northern Ireland, a constituent part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state, if a trade deal hasn't been agreed between the EU and the UK by the end of the transition period.
China's balancing act: A slowing economy, debts and a trade war
Latest figures show GDP rose in 2018 at the slowest pace in 28 years.
Azhar Sukri.- But the slowdown has been engineered by the Chinese government, and the latest growth figure came as little surprise to economists. China does not have much choice. It needs to rein in the massive debts it piled up in recent years to drive its spectacular rise. By one estimate, those debts total around 300 percent of the size of its economy.
Beijing is now trying to perform what economists call a "soft landing". That is, it wants its economy to cool off, but not by too much. It has reversed some curbs on bank lending and infrastructure spending. These measures amount to an economic stimulus, but of a much milder variety than in previous slowdowns.
But the effect of China's slowdown is already being felt around the world. Apple, maker of the iPhone, lost $55bn of its market value on January 2 after CEO Tim Cook warned of slowing sales in China, blaming the trade war. Its South Korean rival, Samsung, made a similar warning a few days later.
Attacks in Thailand's deep south: Who, why and what's next?
Burst of violence deepens concerns the situation in the conflict-hit region could deteriorate in the coming months.
Caleb Quinley.- The evening assault took place at Wat Rattananupab temple in Su Ngai Padi district of Narathiwat province, an area located in the heart of Thailand's deep south where ethnic Malay separatists have been waging an armed campaign for independence for decades.
The military has developed tactics that some are criticising as excessively punitive. Over the years, rights groups such as HRW have called against extrajudicial killings of suspected fighters and encouraged security responses that would reduce collateral damage.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/attacks-thailand-deep-south-190120233033431.html
Colombia's ELN rebels claim deadly police academy attack
National Liberation Army said suicide bombing was a reprisal after authorities failed to respect a unilateral ceasefire.
The National Liberation Army (ELN) said Thursday's vehicle bombing was a reprisal attack after the government of President Ivan Duque failed to respect a unilateral ceasefire declared by the rebels over Christmas.
RT
Over 100 security killed in Taliban attack on Afghan military training center – reports
Taliban militants killed over 100 members of the Afghan security forces in an attack on a military compound in the central province of Maidan Wardak, Reuters reported citing a source in the military. A Taliban suicide bomber drove a car bomb into the base following a firefight between the militants and security forces, Afghanistan’s Pajhwok News reported. The attack took place shortly after 8am local time on Monday.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, also claiming on Twitter that the explosives-laden vehicle destroyed “the entire base” and trapped people under rubble. US President Trump announced a partial withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan last month, to take place on an indeterminate timeline. US forces have been fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2001, and the conflict has tipped in favor of the militants in recent months.
https://www.rt.com/news/449335-afghanistan-taliban-attack-killed/
Climate change is ‘national security issue’, Pentagon warns in new report slammed by Dems
Climate change is a “national security issue with potential impacts” to US military missions and installations, the Pentagon said in a report, submitted to Congress this week. The assessment was ordered last year by the Democratic Party.
According to the Department of Defense, about two-thirds of the 79 “priority installations” are “vulnerable” to recurrent flooding, about a half to wildfires, and more than a half to drought. Climate effects not only disrupt troops training and weapon tests but force the Pentagon to spend more on repair and maintenance, the military wrote.
https://www.rt.com/usa/449268-pentagon-climate-change-report/
Gabbard stands her ground on Syria, says she doesn't regret meeting Assad
Anti-war congresswoman and Iraq veteran Gabbard (D-Hawaii) was pilloried by mainstream media as well as the political establishment, both on the left and the right, for going on a privately funded fact-finding trip to Syria in January 2017, during which she visited Aleppo and met with President Assad. Democratic presidential challenger Tulsi Gabbard has refused to budge on her anti-war views and apologize for meeting Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2017, defending dialogue as the "only alternative" to "more war."
"It continues to be very important for any leader in this country to be willing to meet with others, whether they be friends or adversaries or potential adversaries, if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country," Gabbard said. She referred to Trump's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to prove her point, saying that the "stakes are far too high" to brush away dialogue if it can help avert a major war.
Upon her return from Syria, Gabbard was castigated by fellow Democrats as well as Republicans for cozying up to the Syrian government, almost universally seen by the establishment as a dictatorship that needs to be toppled. The congresswoman, who had also met with Syrian civil activists and religious leaders, said the trip gave her "greater resolve to end our illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government." Gabbard, who criticized the Obama administration's involvement in Syria, urged the government to stop providing arms to rebels, lest they fall into the wrong hands.
https://www.rt.com/usa/449297-gabbard-asad-meeting-no-apology/
AL MAYADEEN
Atentado en Mali contra Cascos azules de la ONU deja 10 muertos y 25 heridos
El secretario general de la ONU, António Guterres, condenó lo que describió como un "ataque complejo" contra el campamento de la misión de paz en la localidad de Aguelhok, región de Kidal, reportó Rusia Today.
Venezuela desmiente presencia del ELN colombiano en su territorio
El texto hace referencia a notas emitidas por el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia entre el 3 y el 15 de enero, las que hacen referencia a la presunta presencia del comando central del grupo armado en Venezuela.
Venezuela recordó que las únicas veces en que se ha establecido comunicación con dicha guerrilla colombiana ha sido durante las mediaciones de paz, y a petición de los respectivos presidentes de Colombia, y llamó a la Cancillería de ese país a restablecer los canales diplomáticos necesarios.
