Iraqi troops backed by helicopter gunships launched an operation early Saturday aimed at dislodging Sunni militants from the northern city of Tikrit, one of two major urban centers they seized in recent weeks in a dramatic blitz across the country. After watching much of Iraq slip out of government hands, military officials sought to portray […]
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is under increasing political pressure to step aside as Sunni militants led by fighters from the al-Qaida breakaway Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant overrun much of northwestern Iraq. Al-Maliki, a Shiite who is looking to secure a third consecutive term after winning April elections, has proven himself to […]
Iran reportedly has sent military advisers into Iraq and dispatched the head of its infamous Quds Force to help Baghdad strategize in its fight against Sunni militants, as the United States takes similar steps despite concern about Tehran’s involvement. While not in lockstep, Tehran and Washington are now taking a similar approach in helping the […]
Syrian opposition activists say that government warplanes have struck an eastern city that is a stronghold of an Islamic militant group, killing five civilians. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the jets struck a target near the headquarters of the al-Qaida breakaway group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant […]
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Polish magazine said Sunday it has obtained recordings of a conversation in which Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski says the country’s strong alliance with the U.S. “isn’t worth anything” and is “even harmful because it creates a false sense of security.” In a short transcript of the conversation, a person identified […]
A Sudanese woman sentenced to death for apostasy was freed Monday by a Khartoum court, and has rejoined her Christian husband with their two young children, her lawyer and state media said. State news agency SUNA said the Court of Cassation threw out the death sentence against 27-year-old Meriam Ibrahim after defense lawyers presented their […]