VOA慢速英语2015 伊拉克发兵企图重新夺回安巴尔

Iraq Launches Operation to Recapture Anbar 伊拉克发兵企图重新夺回安巴尔

The Iraqi government said it has launched an operation to seize control of Anbar province from Islamic State militants¹.

A government television broadcast announced the move. Islamist fighters seized the western province’s capital, Ramadi, earlier this month. Iraqi troops and pro-government militias² have been gathering³ east of the city, preparing for an offensive to reclaim⁴ the mostly Sunni province.

Al-Shabab attacks Kenya police near Somali border

Kenyan officials say al-Shabab militants attacked a group of police officers late Monday near the border with Somalia.

Officials say one police officer was killed and at least four others were injured. The attacks took place in Garissa County. In the same county last month, Islamist militants killed 148 people, mostly students, at Garrissa University College.

Spy trial of Washington Post journalist begins in Iran

The spy trial of American newspaper reporter Jason Rezaian began Tuesday in Iran. The first day of the trial was closed to the public and lasted about two hours.

The state-run IRNA news agency said the trial was being held in a Revolutionary Court, which usually hears cases involving national security.

Iranian officials have not released details of any charges against Mr. Rezaian. The trial is expected to last two to three days.

Mr. Rezaian was arrested last July. He was held for months in an Iranian prison without being charged or permitted to visit with a lawyer.

Recovery continue in Texas and Mexico after strong storms

Recovery operations in Texas and Mexico are expected to continue Tuesday, after severe weather ravaged⁶ the region.

The city of Houston got as much as 25 centimeters of rainfall in some areas Monday and Tuesday.  

At least six people have died in the storms in Texas and Oklahoma.

Across the border in Mexico, people are cleaning up in Ciudad Acuna after a tornado⁷ hit the city, killing⁸ at least 13 people.  

Words in the News

province – n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into

ravage⁵ – v. to damage or harm (something) very badly

tornado – n. a violent and destructive storm in which powerful winds move around a central point

1 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。

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 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

5 ravage   

vt.使...荒废，破坏...；n.破坏，掠夺，荒废

参考例句：

• Just in time to watch a plague ravage his village.恰好目睹了瘟疫毁灭了他的村庄。
• For two decades the country has been ravaged by civil war and foreign intervention.20年来，这个国家一直被内战外侵所蹂躏。

6 ravaged   

毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫

参考例句：

• a country ravaged by civil war 遭受内战重创的国家
• The whole area was ravaged by forest fires. 森林火灾使整个地区荒废了。

7 tornado   

n.飓风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• A tornado whirled into the town last week.龙卷风上周袭击了这座城市。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

8 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。