Prime Minister says Iraq doesn’t need foreign ground forces to fight ISDecember 2, 2015 - 14:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iraq's Prime Minister says his country's forces are capable of defeating the Islamic State group without the help of foreign combat forces, the Associated Press reports. Haider al-Abadi's statement late Tuesday, December 1, came hours after U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told Congress that a new special operations force will be deployed to Iraq to step up fighting against IS. The militant group controls a wide swath of Iraq and neighboring Syria. Al-Abadi said his country needs training, weapons and advice from the International community and not "foreign forces fighting on Iraqi soil." He added that such a move needs his government's approval and full coordination. Carter told the House Armed Services Committee that over time the special operations force will be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence and capture IS leaders. 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 | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |