3 December 2015

Crossword by Boffles

The Middle East Maelstrom

Across

    7  Male sheep plus muddled aid for Iraqi city under siege (6)

    8  Islamic legal system (6)

    9  Branch of Islam followed by 21dn (4)

  10  Migrants reach Greek islands by the ———- (8)

  11  6dn John was (?is), alas (7)

  13  Place of confinement run by 6dn John and many others in the region (4)

  15  Muhammad had one so his followers also do (5)

  17  Explosive part of rocket (7)

  20  Lair of 4dn (8)

  21  In everybody’s sights including Mr Putin’s- or so he says (4)

  22  Used by Russia and China to prevent the UN referring the Syrian crisis to the International Criminal Court (4)

  23  Saudi country keenly interested in the turn of events (6)

 

Down

    1  and 4dn – Leader responsible for many of the problems (6)

    2  If Israel gets a rocket, it will be from here (4)

    3  Akrotiri is our’s (3,4)

    4  See 1dn (5)

    5  US autumn begins a bitterly contested Iraqi city (8)

    6  Islamic militant (6)

  12  Whirlwind bomber (7)

  14  Is it petty to see Hezbollah as such a tool of 21dn? (4-3)

  16  One Paris bomber ——– capture (6)

  18  Son-in-law of Muhammad 9ac believe to be his proper successor (3)

  19  Heightened security sometimes results in a bomb one (5)

  21  A major player in the conflict (4)