Kurdish fighters besiege IS militants in Syrian northeastern cityJuly 16, 2015 - 18:20 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An activist group and the main Kurdish militia in Syria said Kurdish fighters have besieged members of the Islamic State group in the northeastern city of Hassakeh, the Associated Press reports. Kurdish official Mustafa Bali says members of the People's Protection Units, or YPG, have cut all the roads linking Hassakeh with nearby IS strongholds in the province. The IS group attacked several government-held southern neighborhoods in Hassakeh last month and troops have failed to retake the areas. YPG fighters joined the battle, recently capturing several villages south of Hassakeh. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the YPG said Kurdish fighters captured a juvenile prison and a power station south of Hassakeh on Wednesday. Before IS captured parts of Hassakeh last month, the city had been split between government and Kurdish forces. 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 | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |