Turkish jets to join Mosul operation, minister confirmsOctober 19, 2016 - 11:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish jets will continue to take part in the air operation backing Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga to retake Iraq's second city of Mosul from jihadists after the defence minister said late Tuesday, October 19 Ankara had agreed a deal with its coalition partners, the Associated Press reports. "We have agreed with coalition forces for our air forces to take part in the Mosul operation," Fikri Isik was quoted as saying by the official Anadolu agency. "Without Turkey, it is impossible to make decisions on the future of Mosul," he added during a visit to Rome. His comments were further clarification of Turkey's future involvement after Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said earlier in the day that the country's jets joined in the air operation to recapture the city from the Islamic State group. "Our air forces took part in the coalition forces' air operations in Mosul," Yildirim told his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group in Ankara. Yildirim, who admitted he did not know "the operational details", told reporters afterwards there was agreement "in principle" to be part of the coalition. The long-awaited offensive began Monday with air and ground support from a US-led coalition. Yildirim said Turkey was "closely-watching" what was happening but did not give details on the nature of the Turkish air support. Mosul was captured by IS jihadists in June 2014. But ahead of the offensive, Turkey and Iraq were entangled in a war of words over Turkey's presence in northern 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 | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |