Islamic State shoots down Iraqi helicopter over MosulApril 6, 2017 - 18:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Islamic State group shot down an Iraqi helicopter that was supporting federal police forces in Mosul, killing two crew members, the military said on Thursday, April 6, according to AFP. "Their helicopter aircraft was attacked by enemy fire and destroyed on the battlefield," Iraq's Joint Operations Command said in a statement, putting the death toll at two. It did not specify what type of helicopter was shot down, nor say whether it was hit by gunfire or a surface-to-air missile. The IS attack comes after another helicopter went down south of Mosul at the beginning of the year due to a "technical failure," killing four crew members. Iraqi forces launched a major operation to retake Mosul in October, recapturing its eastern side before setting their sights on the smaller but more densely populated west. Strikes by Iraqi helicopters are especially important for the country's interior ministry forces, which consistently complain of not receiving sufficient air support from the US-led anti-IS coalition. Photo: AP 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 | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |