Senior al Qaeda commander in Afghanistan killed in U.S. airstrikeJuly 24, 2015 - 16:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A senior al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan was killed in a U.S. airstrike earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has said, according to BBC News. He said that Abu Khalil al-Sudani was killed on July 11. Carter said that al-Sudani planned suicide operations, and was directly linked to plots to attack the U.S. Al-Sudani also directed operations against Nato, Afghan and Pakistani forces, Carter said, and was close to al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. "Al-Sudani was one of three known violent extremists killed in the strike," a Pentagon statement said. "The death of al-Sudani will further degrade al Qaeda operations across the globe." Carter said that the trio were killed in the Bermel district of Paktika province. The latest violence comes amid an increase in Taliban attacks on government and foreign targets during their summer offensive. Earlier this month, Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar backed peace talks with the government. The two sides are due to meet again at the end of July, officials said on Friday, with the venue still to be decided. Photo: EPA 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 | 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 Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. |