Russia’s military on Monday released drone footage showing more destruction of treasured monuments by the Islamic State in Syria’s Palmyra since jihadists recaptured the UNESCO World Heritage Site late last year. The black-and-white video dated February 5 shows part of the Roman amphitheatre reduced to rubble and the tetrapylon, a 16-columned structure that marked one … Read more
The head of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah movement on Sunday urged the government to coordinate with Damascus to help refugees to return now that “large areas” of Syria are “safe”. In a televised address, Hassan Nasrallah said Syrian refugees should not be coerced into going home, but added that a string of “victories” by President Bashar … Read more
British Defence Minister Michael Fallon said Saturday in Iraq that he expected to see the Islamic State group expelled from the country’s major towns by the end of 2017. “We expect to see Daesh (IS) expelled from the major towns and cities of Iraq during the course of the year,” he told reporters in Arbil, … Read more
Representatives from Russia, Turkey and Iran have kicked off a technical meeting in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana to discuss details of the implementation of the Syrian ceasefire agreement. The meeting comes two weeks after the three countries reached an agreement in Astana to create a trilateral mechanism aimed at monitoring breaches of a fragile truce established … Read more
Syrian government forces took back control of an area near Damascus that provides most of the capital’s water supplies after reaching a deal for rebel fighters to withdraw, pro-government media and a monitoring group said. The Syrian army and its allies launched an offensive last month to drive insurgents from the Wadi Barada valley, which … Read more
Residents of Damascus have been struggling with water shortages for weeks The Syrian military says it has regained Damascus’s main water source from rebels. Water shortages have affected more than five million residents in the Damascus area since late December. State television said the national flag was now flying over the pumping facility in the … Read more
She’s the 7-year-old Syrian girl who brought the plight of people living in eastern Aleppo to the world and now she’s asking US President Donald Trump to help save her friends. In a new video sent to CNN, Bana Alabed — who has been living in Turkey since fleeing Aleppo in December — reads an … Read more
Iraqi troops have made swift advances through the city in recent days The Iraqi army says it is preparing military operations to retake western Mosul, the last urban stronghold in Iraq of so-called Islamic State. The preparations follow a recent offensive which officials said on Wednesday had recaptured nearly all of the city’s east. Counter-terror … Read more
The Iraqi army says it has recaptured all of eastern Mosul from the so-called Islamic State (IS). Counter-terror chief Talib Shaghati told reporters the army had taken control of the eastern bank of the Tigris river, which divides the city. Government forces have made swift advances through eastern Mosul after launching their latest offensive there … Read more
Iraqi special forces have taken full control of a strategic university in eastern Mosul, according to senior commanders, the latest advance in a major push to drive ISIL out of its last urban stronghold in Iraq. The capture of the Mosul University campus, seized by ISIL fighters when they took over the city in 2014, … Read more
Two “dangerous terrorists”, including an explosive-belt maker, were shot and killed in Saudi Arabia during a security operation in the capital Riyadh on Saturday. The Saudi state news agency SPA, citing an interior ministry spokesman, said a security officer was also wounded in the operation in the al-Yasmin neighbourhood in northern Riyadh. Suspect Tayeh al-Saihari, … Read more
At least nine people are reported killed and 25 others wounded in a car bomb attack on Syrian government-held coastal town of Jableh, state media reported. Thursday’s attack in the Latakia province is the first such explosion since a new ceasefire, brokered by Russia and Turkey, took effect last week. Two Russian bases are reportedly … Read more
A BBC sketch satirising British women who have left to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group has attracted controversy and praise alike online. The two-minute-long skit titled The Real Housewives of ISIS features four British Muslim women who have left their homes in the UK to … Read more
ISIL has claimed responsibility for the attack on a nightclub in Istanbul that killed 39 people on New Year’s Eve. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group released on Monday a statement claiming responsibility for the raid. “In continuation of the blessed operations that Islamic State is conducting … Read more
At least 33 people were killed and 48 wounded in a car bomb attack on a busy square in Baghdad’s sprawling Sadr City district, police and medical sources said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday’s attack but the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group regularly … Read more
The explosions happened one after another in the busy al-Sinak market. More than 50 people were injured. Police said a roadside bomb exploded near a car spare parts shop, then a suicide bomber detonated his device among the crowd that had gathered. Baghdad has seen frequent attacks, often targeting Shia districts. IS released a statement … Read more
At least 28 people have died in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in a double bombing claimed by so-called Islamic State (IS). The explosions happened one after another in the busy al-Sinak market. More than 50 people were injured. Police said a roadside bomb exploded near a car spare parts shop, then a suicide bomber detonated … Read more
I want to praise you for your role in the Syrian issues especially the liberation of Aleppo. For the first time in four years, Christians in Aleppo celebrated Christmas and that was achieved through your tactful intervention in the Syria war. And also your firm stands against homosexuals which many leaders have bowed to shamefully. … Read more
Russia has called a US decision to ease restrictions on arming Syrian opposition groups a “hostile act” that would directly threaten Russian military forces in Syria. Maria Zakharova, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, said on Tuesday the policy change set out in the annual defence policy bill signed into law by US President Barack Obama last … Read more
Separate bombings in and around Baghdad have killed at least 11 civilians and wounded 34 others, according to Iraqi officials. The deadliest attacks took place in the southeastern Nahrawan district and southwestern Suwaib district, where three civilians were killed in each, police said on Sunday. A total of 15 civilians were wounded in the two … Read more