IS attacks Syrian town of Tal Abyad: activistsJuly 1, 2015 - 09:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Islamic State (IS) militants have attacked the northern Syrian town of Tal Abyad, which they lost to Kurdish fighters two weeks ago, activists say, according to BBC News. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS had seized a district of the town, which is on the Turkish border. The loss of Tal Abyad was a significant blow to IS, as it lay on a key supply route to its stronghold of Raqqa. In the past week, IS has tried to regain the initiative by launching a series of assaults in the region. The most prominent saw a group of jihadists infiltrate Kobane, west of Tal Abyad, killing more than 200 people over the course of two days. The Syrian Observatory, a UK-based monitoring group, said IS militants had entered Tal Abyad on Tuesday, June 30 and taken control of the Mashor Foqani district, on the town's eastern outskirts. Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) fighters were now trying to encircle the jihadists and prevent them from making further advances, it added. The YPG, backed by allied Syrian rebels and US-led coalition air strikes, captured Tal Abyad on 16 June, only days after launching a two-pronged assault on the town that prompted thousands of residents to flee across the border with Turkey. Afterwards, the Kurds advanced southwards and overran the IS-held town of Ain Issa, only 50km (30 miles) from Raqqa. The capture of Tal Abyad allowed the YPG to connect the Kurdish enclaves, or "cantons", surrounding Kobane and the city of Qamishli, east of Tal Abyad. Photo: AFP 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 | Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. Schengen visa cost won’t change for Armenia – diplomat The increase in the cost of a Schengen visa will not apply to citizens of Armenia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said. Yeremyan Projects opens state-of-the-art dairy production plant Yeremyan Projects officially launched the Yeremyan Products state-of-the-art milk processing plant in Yerevan on May 24. Armenian PM’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Vanadzor The helicopter transporting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an emergency landing in Vanadzor. |