US, Iraq readying Mosul offensive against IS group: mediaJanuary 24, 2015 - 11:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States and Iraq are preparing to retake Iraq's second-largest city Mosul from the Islamic State group by this summer, The Wall Street Journal reports. As Agence France-Presse reports citing The Wall Street Journal, a group of Kurdish fighters and other Western-trained forces should be ready to launch the offensive by the spring or summer, the head of the US military's Central Command General Lloyd Austin told the Journal. "If we did things alone or with some of the other allies on the ground, it could move faster," he told the newspaper. "But the Iraqis have to do this themselves." The general said he had not decided whether to recommend that US forces accompany Iraqis on the offensive. The US air strikes have recently focused on putting pressure on IS-held Mosul. Kurdish peshmerga forces have also launched successful offensives against IS-held roads near Mosul, which is in the north of the country. The city once held well over a million people but now is likely a fraction of that size. The general told the newspaper that the international coalition fighting IS has made significant headway in its battle to roll back the group's control over large swaths of the country. Defense officials say their air strikes have killed thousands of jihadists. The Iraqi government recently asked for more weapons to help its military that partially collapsed in early stages of the fight against IS. Photo: AFP 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 | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |