Army airstrike reportedly kills 60 militants in Iraq's MosulAugust 6, 2014 - 17:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An Iraqi army airstrike in the militant-held northern city of Mosul on Wednesday, Aug 6, killed 60 fighters from the extremists Islamic State group, the Iraqi state television reported, according to the Associated Press. The report said the dawn strike targeted a downtown prison that was being used by Islamic State members as a religious court and detention facility. The AP says the claim could not be independently verified and the area was inaccessible to most media. Sunni extremists from the al Qaeda-breakaway Islamic State group seized Mosul, Iraq's largest second-largest city, in a blitz offensive in June that also captured large swaths of the country's north and west. The militant onslaught plunged Iraq into its worst crisis since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011. The group has since imposed a self-styled caliphate in territory it controls in Iraq and Syria, imposing the militants' harsh interpretation of Islamic law. Since then, Iraqi government forces and allied Sunni tribal militiamen have been struggling to dislodge the militants but with no apparent progress. The TV report said 60 militants were killed in Wednesday's strike and about 300 people who were in the militants' custody were set free. The report cited intelligence officials but provided no further information. A Mosul resident, speaking on condition of anonymity fearing for his own safety, told the AP over the phone that families of the prisoners rushed to the site to help their kin. "The prison was partly damaged in the airstrike," he said, adding that he did not know if there were casualties. Photo: Reuters Related links: Related issues: 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. |