VOA慢速英语--叙利亚动乱为伊斯兰国激进组织注入活力

Syrian Unrest Breathes Life into Islamic State Militant¹ Group

Officials are warning that Turkey's offensive into northeastern Syria might be giving the militant group Islamic State new life.

However, American counterterrorism officials say the group's next moves are unclear.

They warn that Islamic State, or IS, knows how to use conflicts in the area to make gains, as it did in Iraq.

The officials spoke² on the condition that their identities would not be released.

IS has used the months since its defeat in Baghuz, Syria, to create "networks" of about 10,000 to 15,000 fighters, the officials said. The group is preparing for a long, violent insurgency³.

But, it remains⁴ uncertain how IS will change its plans “in Syria in light of the Turkish incursion," a U.S. counterterrorism official told VOA.

Most IS military operations had targeted Kurdish security forces before Turkey launched its offensive. Now, some believe, it is possible that IS may try to free some of its 12,000 fighters being held by the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces – or SDF. It may also try to free some of the IS wives and other family members in camps in the area. In September, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi asked his fighters to do just that.

It is unclear how many captured IS fighters may have escaped or been freed since American troops began to withdraw from northern Syria. Turkey and the SDF both claim IS prisoners are not being freed, but each has accused the other of releasing prisoners who agree to fight. Both sides reject these claims.

Conditions ripe for thriving IS

U.S. officials fear the unrest in Syria will help IS rebuild. The lack of safety for local populations, ethnic⁵ divisions and government corruption⁶ help IS grow.

These are all issues “that ISIS has… exploited," said the U.S. counterterrorism official.

And IS may be recovering from its recent defeat.

Safeguarding Syria's oil, infrastructure⁷

There are fears IS may try to target oil fields now under the control of Kurdish forces. U.S. President Donald Trump⁸, however, said they are secure.

"We secured the oil," Trump said during a cabinet meeting Monday.

U.S. Defense⁹ Secretary Mark Esper confirmed Tuesday that some troops "remain in the towns that are located near the oil fields." The purpose of their presence “is to deny access to those oil fields by ISIS and others who may benefit from revenues that could be earned," Esper told reporters Monday during a news conference in Afghanistan.

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

incursion– n. a sudden invasion or attack

insurgency- n.a usually violent attempt to take control of a government

exploit- v.to use (someone or something) in a way that helps you unfairly

capable- adj. having the qualities or abilities that are needed to do something

revenue– n.profits made from a business

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。