VOA标准英语2015--Iraq Launches Offensive Against Islamic State

Iraq Launches Offensive Against Islamic State

WASHINGTON—

Iraq has launched an offensive to retake territory lost to Islamic State insurgents¹.

Local Kurdish and Shi'ite militias² have joined government forces to fight the invading radical³ group and they are supported by coalition⁴ airstrikes.

At an army base in the north, General Najim al-Jabouri told his troops getting ready to start a ground offensive that police and local tribal⁵ militias will participate in the battle.

"We all work as a team. We have the highest level of coordination⁶ between us and the peshmerga forces, between us and the popular mobilization forces, as well as with tribal forces who will participate in this battle. All police members from different departments, local and federal police, in addition to the lions of the Iraqi army, supported by Iraqi air forces and army air forces," al-Jabouri said.

Coalition airstrikes already have begun to weaken Islamic State positions ahead of the ground offensive. Iraqi special forces and Shi'ite paramilitary fighters fought Wednesday to retake a major oil refinery⁷ from the militants⁸.

The large Baiji refinery complex has changed hands several times in the past year.

The government recaptured it from the militants in November, and after losing control of it, recaptured it in April. Earlier this month, the militants broke through the perimeter⁹ of the complex and have been gaining ground.

In an exclusive interview with VOA, Iraq's President Fuad Masum acknowledged that defeating the militants, also known as Daesh, won't be easy.

"Eliminating Daesh isn't easy because they have many types of sleeper¹⁰ cells – not only in Iraq but in other countries, too. That is why one must think to fight Daesh on many fronts. One war is on the ground. The other fight is draining its financial resources. And to cooperate with other countries in sharing intelligence on those who are with Daesh and work for Daesh," said Masum.

The president stressed that international cooperation is essential to defeating Islamic State.

Meanwhile, the U.S.-led coalition conducted 20 airstrikes in Iraq and four in Syria targeting Islamic State militants in a 24-hour period ending early Friday, the Combined Joint¹¹ Task Force leading the air operations said.

In Iraq, airstrikes carried out using attack, fighter, bomber¹² and drone aircraft struck near Baghdadi, Baiji, Falluja, Makhmur, Ramadi, Sinjar and Tal Afar, the task force said in a statement Friday. In Syria, airstrikes carried out using bomber and fighter aircraft struck near Al Hasakah and Kobani, it said.

1 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

2 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

3 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

6 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

7 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

8 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

9 perimeter   

n.周边，周长，周界

参考例句：

• The river marks the eastern perimeter of our land.这条河标示我们的土地东面的边界。
• Drinks in hands,they wandered around the perimeter of the ball field.他们手里拿着饮料在球场周围漫不经心地遛跶。

10 sleeper   

n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺

参考例句：

• I usually go up to London on the sleeper. 我一般都乘卧车去伦敦。
• But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. 但首先他解释说自己睡觉很沉。

11 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

12 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。