1,600 Kurdish peshmerga killed in war against Islamic StateDecember 2, 2016 - 10:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A total of 1,600 Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters have been killed since the Islamic State group took over large parts of the country in June 2014, peshmerga officials said Thursday, December 1, according to AFP. Peshmerga ministry spokesman Halgord Hekmat initially told AFP the figure applied to the offensive launched on October 17 to retake the jihadist stronghold of Mosul but later corrected himself. Peshmerga ministry secretary-general Jabar Yawar confirmed the overall casualty figures since the start of the war with IS two and half years ago. "Since the beginning of the war against Daesh, which means June 2014, until November 30 (2016), the total number of martyrs is 1,614 and the wounded are 9,515," he told AFP, using the Arabic acronym for IS. 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 | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |