Syria rebels capture IS-held border crossingMarch 5, 2016 - 17:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Free Syrian Army faction seized control of the Syrian side of a major Syria-Iraq border crossing from the Islamic State group Friday, March 4 night, as IS fighters engaged government forces in the center of the country, killing at least 15 soldiers, the Associated Press reports. The Local Coordination Committees' network of opposition activists in Syria reported Saturday that fighters belonging to the FSA Southern Front and reportedly supported by the United States killed one IS fighter and injured several others in the process of taking the Tanaf border crossing. According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the FSA fighters crossed into Syria from Jordan to launch the attack. The IS-affiliated Aamaq News Agency denied the reports. The IS group had controlled the crossing, located in Homs province in southeast Syria, since government forces withdrew in May 2015. IS fighters meanwhile attacked the government's supply route to the contested northern city of Aleppo killing between 15 and 20 soldiers, according to various reports. Government forces repelled the attack and secured the road, according to the Observatory and SANA, the Syrian state news agency. SANA reported government forces killed dozens of IS fighters in the clashes, AP says. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Great success”: Pashinyan pleased with new border protocol Pashinyan has described the signing by Armenia and Azerbaijan of a protocol on delimitation in Tavush as “a great success”. Armenia, Azerbaijan sign protocol on demarcation coordinates Armenia’s government took on May 15 another step towards handing over four border areas to Azerbaijan. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children |