France's Hollande orders preparations for IS air strikesSeptember 7, 2015 - 14:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Francois Hollande has ordered preparations to begin for air strikes on Islamic State militants in Syria, BBC news reports. He said France would start reconnaissance flights on Tuesday, September 8, with a view to launching attacks on the group. Speaking at his bi-annual news conference in Paris, Hollande ruled out sending troops on the ground. The UN says more than 220,000 people have been killed and more than nine million displaced in the war in Syria. Hollande said terror attacks had been planned from Syria against several countries, including France. "My responsibility is to ensure that we are informed as much as possible on the threats to our country," he said, according to the BBC. "So I have asked the defense minister that from tomorrow reconnaissance flights begin over Syria that will enable us to consider air strikes against Islamic State." 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. |