IS attack in northeast Syria reported to displace 60,000: UNJune 26, 2015 - 13:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An Islamic State attack on the northeastern Syrian city of Hasaka is reported to have displaced 60,000 people, the United Nations office in Syria said on Friday, June 26 warning that up to 200,000 people may eventually try to flee, Reuters reports. Islamic State launched an assault on government-held areas of Hasaka on Thursday, capturing at least one district in the southwest of the city, which lies close to the borders with Turkey and Iraq. Hasaka is divided into zones run separately by the government of President Bashar al-Assad and a Kurdish administration. Islamic State fighters also attacked the Kurdish-held town of Kobani, or Ayn al-Arab, in its twin offensive on Thursday. The UNOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said an estimated 50,000 people had been displaced within Hasaka city while 10,000 had left northwards towards Amuda town, close to the Turkish border. Its report on developments on Thursday cited the Syrian government's Department of Social Affairs and local partners. It said the estimated pre-war population in Hasaka was around 300,000 people. "An estimated 200,000 people may try to flee the city in the coming hours to northern areas of the governorate, most likely towards Amuda and Qamishli," it said. Qamishli is a city around 80km (50 miles) north of Hasaka that sits on the Turkish border. Islamic State said on Thursday it had seized al-Nashwa district and neighboring areas in the southwest of Hasaka, a city divided into zones of government and Kurdish control. It said humanitarian partners in Qamishli and the Department of Social affairs met on Thursday in preparation for an expected influx of displaced people. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organization that tracks the war, said clashes in Kobani erupted between Islamic State militants and the Kurdish YPG militia for a second day on Friday. Photo: AFP 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. |