26 dead as Syria launches anti-IS airstrikes in PalmyraSeptember 19, 2015 - 11:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian government war planes have launched one of the heaviest bombardments yet on the city of Palmyra, which is held by Islamic State (IS) militants, activists say, according to BBC News. About 25 air strikes left at least 26 people dead, including 12 militants, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. IS captured Palmyra, which includes a Unesco World Heritage site, in May. Elsewhere, air strikes on Idlib killed 17 people, the Observatory said. The city of Idlib is a stronghold of an alliance of jihadist and Islamist groups calling itself the Army of Conquest. Syrian military sources quoted by Reuters have said Syria is using new types of very accurate weapons supplied by its ally, Russia. Earlier on Friday, the US and Russian defence ministers spoke by phone for the first time in more than a year to discuss the crisis. The latest air strikes came a day after Syrian air force jets attacked Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS. Since occupying Palmyra, IS has destroyed some of its most famous antiquities including its two main temples and three funerary towers. Unesco's director-general Irina Bokova has said the systematic destruction of the city constitutes a "war crime". IS has ransacked and demolished several similar ancient sites that pre-date Islam in Iraq. 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. |