Iraqi army recaptures IS-held Gayara air base east of MosulJuly 9, 2016 - 15:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Iraqi army announced on Saturday, July 9 the recapture of the old Gayara air base near the Tigris River in an offensive that aims to inch closer to the Islamic State’s (ISIS) stronghold of Mosul, said the governor of Nineveh, According to Rudaw. “Today, at 10 am Iraqi forces launched an attack on Gayara military airport and managed to control it,” Nofel Hamadi, Nineveh Governor told Rudaw Saturday. “IS did not fight back and they escaped to Mosul,” Hamadi added. Gayara is a former Iraqi army air base that has been used by IS militants as a bomb-making center, according to military officials. The army says, according to Rudaw, that Gayara brings them closer to Mosul that has been under ISIS control for two years. Previously known as the Saddam Airbase, Gayara played a crucial role during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. Iraqi troops have recaptured close to 10 villages in the Nineveh plains in recent weeks as part of their drive towards Mosul. 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 | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |