Raqqa water supply reconnected after U.S. airstrikesFebruary 3, 2017 - 20:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The water supply to the Syrian city of Raqqa, a stronghold of the Islamic State (IS) group, has been reconnected after U.S. airstrikes caused a temporary cut, BBC News reports. The main pipeline was damaged when a bridge was hit, according to IS and anti-IS activists. Citizen journalist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently confirmed, on Friday, February 3 that IS has mended the pipe. Syrian rebels backed by the U.S.-led coalition are trying to capture Raqqa. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently said the strikes had targeted local infrastructure. The U.S. is working with the Kurdish-led rebel group Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to try to defeat IS. In November, the coalition said it had begun an operation to capture Raqqa, which has been held by the jihadist group since January 2014. The U.S. announced, in December, that it was sending 200 more military personnel for the operation. A Kurdish official told Reuters news agency this week that the aim of the campaign was to seal off all roads to the city, including links with Deir al-Zour province, another IS stronghold. 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 | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. 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. |