At least 20 IS militants killed in attempt to seize Syrian air base December 22, 2014 - 14:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 20 Islamist State (IS) group members were killed in the second failed jihadist bid in a month to take over an air base in eastern Syria, a monitoring group said Sunday, Dec 21, according to AFP. "The IS tried, starting late Saturday, to storm the air base. A total of 20 jihadists were killed in the attack, as well as two regime soldiers," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Nineteen of the IS members were Syrian, while one was Moroccan. They were killed in fighting and heavy army shelling. "The withdrawing jihadists seized and took with them several anti-aircraft missiles," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman. The attack was the second recent attempt by IS to take over the Deir ez-Zor military air base, one of the last remaining regime positions in the eastern province. Deir ez-Zor is located on the border with Iraq, where IS also controls large swathes of territory. The IS group emerged in Syria's conflict in the spring of 2013. Since then it has declared a "caliphate" straddling Syria and Iraq. Activists say it rules the people under its control through a reign of terror.  Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia.Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan. |
