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Iraq regains ground from Islamic State; mass deaths reported in Palmyra

BAGHDAD/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iraqi forces recaptured territory from advancing Islamic State militants near the recently-fallen city of Ramadi on Sunday, while in Syria the government said the Islamists had killed hundreds of people since capturing the town of Palmyra. The fall of Ramadi and Palmyra, on opposite ends of the vast territory controlled by Islamic State fighters, were the militant group’s biggest successes since a U.S.-led coalition launched an air

Syria says killed 300 insurgents to free besieged soldiers in Idlib‬

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian army air strikes killed at least 300 insurgents and wounded hundreds more during a military operation to free besieged troops at a hospital in northwestern Syria, state television said on Sunday. Dozens of Syrian troops, who had been holed up since April in the Jisr al-Shughour hospital in Idlib province, were freed on Friday. (Reporting by Mariam Karouny; editing by David Clarke)

Syria says killed 300 insurgents to free besieged soldiers in Idlib‬

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian army air strikes killed at least 300 insurgents and wounded hundreds more during a military operation to free besieged troops at a hospital in northwestern Syria, state television said on Sunday. Dozens of Syrian troops, who had been holed up since April in the Jisr al-Shughour hospital in Idlib province, were freed on Friday. (Reporting by Mariam Karouny; editing by David Clarke)

Saudi forces and Yemen's Houthis trade heavy fire, border crossing hit

Saudi forces and Yemen’s Houthi militia traded heavy artillery fire which destroyed part of the main border crossing between the two countries overnight, residents said on Sunday, an escalation of the two-month war. The Haradh border crossing, the largest for people and goods between the world’s top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, and its impoverished neighbor, was evacuated amid shelling which razed its departure lounge and passport section, witnesses said. Saudi

Saudi forces and Yemen's Houthis trade heavy fire, border crossing hit

Saudi forces and Yemen’s Houthi militia traded heavy artillery fire which destroyed part of the main border crossing between the two countries overnight, residents said on Sunday, an escalation of the two-month war. The Haradh border crossing, the largest for people and goods between the world’s top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, and its impoverished neighbor, was evacuated amid shelling which razed its departure lounge and passport section, witnesses said. Saudi

Italy coast guard rescues 70 Afghan, Iraqi migrants from crowded boat

Seventy Afghan and Iraqi migrants were rescued from a packed boat off the southeastern coast of Italy and brought to shore on Sunday, Italy’s coast guard said. Italy closed down a specialized naval mission to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean last year, but continues to bear the brunt of the rescues as the European Union and member states conduct talks on how to deal with the influx. Two Italian coast

Italy coast guard rescues 70 Afghan, Iraqi migrants from crowded boat

Seventy Afghan and Iraqi migrants were rescued from a packed boat off the southeastern coast of Italy and brought to shore on Sunday, Italy’s coast guard said. Italy closed down a specialized naval mission to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean last year, but continues to bear the brunt of the rescues as the European Union and member states conduct talks on how to deal with the influx. Two Italian coast

Women activists cross DMZ to mixed reception on South Korean side

By James Pearson PAJU, South Korea (Reuters) – A group of international women activists crossed the heavily-fortified Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea on Sunday in what they said was a symbolic act for peace. North and South Korea are still technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Despite its name the DMZ is one of the most heavily

Women activists cross DMZ to mixed reception on South Korean side

By James Pearson PAJU, South Korea (Reuters) – A group of international women activists crossed the heavily-fortified Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea on Sunday in what they said was a symbolic act for peace. North and South Korea are still technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Despite its name the DMZ is one of the most heavily