A member of the Syrian Civil Defence at the scene of the explosion at the market in the Turkish-controlled city of Al Bab, in Syria's Aleppo province. AFP
A member of the Syrian Civil Defence at the scene of the explosion at the market in the Turkish-controlled city of Al Bab, in Syria's Aleppo province. AFP
A member of the Syrian Civil Defence at the scene of the explosion at the market in the Turkish-controlled city of Al Bab, in Syria's Aleppo province. AFP
A member of the Syrian Civil Defence at the scene of the explosion at the market in the Turkish-controlled city of Al Bab, in Syria's Aleppo province. AFP

Deadly blasts rock Turkish-controlled areas in Syria


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At least two people were killed and others wounded on Thursday in three separate blasts, including a suicide bombing, in Turkish-held areas of northern Syria, a war monitor said.

The suicide bomber launched an attack in the city of Afrin near a military base run by fighters supported by Turkey, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The observatory, based in Britain, did not have a casualty toll for that attack.

But its head, Rami Abdulrahman, said two people were killed earlier on Thursday in two other blasts elsewhere in northern Syria.

One was in a marketplace in the town of Al Bab, in an area of war-torn Syria that in recent years has turned into an informal Turkish protectorate.

Dozens of people were wounded in the explosion, Mr Abdulrahman said.

Before that, one person was killed and several wounded when a car bomb exploded in the town of Azaz.

It was not immediately clear if the three explosions were linked.

All three towns are in the northern province of Aleppo, and under the control of Turkish forces and their Syrian allies.

Turkey and its allies have seized control of territory inside Syria over the course of several military operations launched since 2016.

The war in Syria has killed about 500,000 people and spurred the largest conflict-induced displacement since the Second World War after it broke out in 2011.

Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
  • 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
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The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Updated: January 13, 2022, 9:37 PM`