France launches anti-IS strikes from Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrierSeptember 30, 2016 - 11:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - French fighter jets took off from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle on Friday, September 30 for an operation against the Islamic State group in its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, an officer said, according to the Middle East Eye. Eight jets took off from the carrier in the eastern Mediterranean on Friday morning, an AFP photographer on the flight deck reported. The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is on its third mission since February 2015 in support of the U.S.-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria. France's RTL radio station said the mission would see 24 aircraft carry out an average of one strike every three minutes. The deployment came hours after the U.S.-led coalition of which France is part announced the death of an IS leader in one of its strikes in Mosul. A coalition spokesperson said on Friday morning that air strikes had killed 18 IS leaders during the past three days, 13 of them in Mosul. One of these was reportedly a fighter known as Abu Janat, the man thought to be behind the group’s chemical weapons strategy, MEE says. However, the spokesperson said that between 3,000 and 4,500 IS fighters remain on the ground in Mosul. IS seized Mosul along with other areas in June 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant ground from the militants. Iraqi forces have for months been readying for an assault to retake Iraq's second-largest city, with coalition air support and backing from some of the 4,565 U.S. troops fighting on the ground. Top stories 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". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |