France's Hollande orders preparations for IS air strikesSeptember 7, 2015 - 14:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Francois Hollande has ordered preparations to begin for air strikes on Islamic State militants in Syria, BBC news reports. He said France would start reconnaissance flights on Tuesday, September 8, with a view to launching attacks on the group. Speaking at his bi-annual news conference in Paris, Hollande ruled out sending troops on the ground. The UN says more than 220,000 people have been killed and more than nine million displaced in the war in Syria. Hollande said terror attacks had been planned from Syria against several countries, including France. "My responsibility is to ensure that we are informed as much as possible on the threats to our country," he said, according to the BBC. "So I have asked the defense minister that from tomorrow reconnaissance flights begin over Syria that will enable us to consider air strikes against Islamic State." Related links: 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 | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |