Rockets into U.S. base kill 2 NATO troops, 3 Afghan civiliansMay 18, 2012 - 18:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Rockets crashed into a U.S. base and a house Friday, May 18, in a remote area of northeast Afghanistan along the Pakistan border, killing two NATO service members and three civilians, officials said. According to the Associated Press, Sabawoon Hotak, a local spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in eastern Afghanistan, said the two service members were killed and four others were lightly wounded when the rocket struck the base in Nari district of Kunar province. The area is a haven for hardcore insurgent groups fighting along the poorly marked border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The heaviest fighting in the decade-long war is concentrated in the south and east of the country, although insurgents have opened new fronts in the north and west and continue to conduct suicide attacks in the capital, Kabul. Provincial police chief Gen. Ewaz Mohammad Nazari said the other rocket hit a home in Marawara district, killing three people and wounding six others, including a child. He said the rocket was fired from the direction of the Afghan-Pakistan border. NATO said it did not have any reports of rockets or mortars being launched into Kunar from Pakistan. Also in the east, a NATO airstrike killed eight militants in Sayd Abad district of Wardak province early Friday, the governor's office said. NATO said the insurgents were trying to plant roadside bombs in the area. In the west, three members of the Afghan security forces - two soldiers and an intelligence official - and 11 militants were killed Friday in a gunbattle in Farah province, said deputy provincial police chief Ghulam Ghows Malyar. The security forces launched an offensive against a group of insurgents who were trying to block a road in Bala Buluk district. So far this year, 154 NATO service members have been killed in Afghanistan. At least 100 of them were Americans. 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 | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |