Conflict News

Retaken but not rebuilt: Syria's Raqa a year after IS ouster

By AFP

Ak - All day, dinghies cross the Euphrates River to shuttle residents into the pulverised cityscape of Syria's Raqa, where bridges, homes, and schools remain gutted by the offensive against the Islamic State group.

Israel pounds Gaza after first rocket fire in weeks

By AFP

Gaza - Israeli warplanes pounded the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after the first rocket fire from the Palestinian territory in weeks hit an Israeli city, in a blow to efforts to avert a new war.

Dread of sharia haunts Malian town besieged by jihadists

By AFP

Mopti - With a trembling finger, Amadou Koita points to the square where he was lashed 30 times in public.For several months, this remote town in central Mali was occupied by jihadist rebels who have unleashed a spiral of violence in the region.

US strike in Somalia killed 60 militants: Pentagon

By AFP

Washington - The United States conducted its largest air strike in nearly two years against militants in Somalia, killing about 60 Al-Shabaab fighters, the US military said Tuesday.

US strike in Somalia killed 60 militants: Pentagon

By AFP

Washington - The United States conducted its largest air strike in nearly two years against militants in Somalia, killing about 60 Al-Shabaab fighters, the US military said Tuesday.

Palestinians win UN backing to lead developing country bloc

By AFP

New York - The Palestinians won backing Tuesday to lead the biggest bloc of developing countries at the United Nations, raising their profile at the world body despite opposition from the United States.

Foreign fighters still joining IS in Syria: US general

By AFP

Washington - Foreign fighters continue to flow into Syria to join the Islamic State group despite its forces being largely decimated, Pentagon Joint Chiefs chairman Joe Dunford said Tuesday.

UN warns of worsening hunger crisis in Yemen

By AFP

Geneva - Some 12 million Yemenis could soon be on the brink of famine if the security and economic situation in the war-ravaged country does not improve, the UN warned Tuesday.

Moscow, Ankara say Syria buffer going ahead despite missed deadline

By AFP

Beirut - Russia and Turkey said Tuesday their deal to set up a buffer zone for the last major Syrian rebel bastion of Idlib was still on course, despite jihadists missing a deadline to withdraw.

Syrians search for IS captives a year after caliphate crumbles

By AFP

Ak - When the Islamic State group lost its Syrian bastion Raqa last year, Amani hoped to finally uncover what happened to her husband who had vanished in the jihadists' prisons.

War drills on the school curriculum in eastern Ukraine

By AFP

Sartana - Huddled in a basement, dozens of children cover their heads with their hands, practising what to do if their school comes under attack in eastern Ukraine's war.

Syria reopens two border crossings, but many escape regime control

By AFP

Birut - Two border crossings in Syria's south reopened on Monday, after the government's capture of the entire frontier there allowed for the gates to be opened for the first time in years.

Syria, Iraq say joint border crossing to re-open soon

By AFP

Damascus - A border crossing between Syria and Iraq is to re-open soon, Damascus and Baghdad's top diplomats said Monday, hours after other Syrian frontier posts reopened with Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan.

Palestinian tries to stab Israeli soldier, shot dead: army

By AFP

Jerusalem - A Palestinian was shot dead Monday after trying to stab an Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank, the army said.An Israeli military statement said the man who tried to attack the soldier near the Jewish settlement of Ariel was shot and killed.

Sole crossing between Syria and Israel-held Golan reopens

By AFP

Katzrin - The sole crossing point between Syria and Israeli-controlled territory reopened Monday after a four-year hiatus, as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime bolsters its control in the wake of sweeping advances against rebels.

Year after IS lost Syria's Raqa, holdout hospital awaits recovery

By AFP

Ak - Shattered ultrasound machines and prosthetic limbs litter the hallways of Raqa's main hospital, still gutted a year after the Islamic State group made its infamous last stand in its Syrian heartland.

Syria's Idlib buffer zone hangs in balance

By AFP

Beirut - A horseshoe-shaped demilitarised zone around Syria's opposition stronghold of Idlib is aimed at averting a massive government assault on the area, but its implementation has been riddled with challenges.

Israel approves 31 settler homes in flashpoint Hebron: minister

By AFP

Jerusalem - Israel's government Sunday approved the construction of 31 settler homes in Hebron, the first such green light for the flashpoint West Bank city since 2002, a cabinet minister said.

Deadline passes for Syria's Idlib buffer without jihadists leaving

By AFP

Beirut - A deadline passed Monday without jihadists leaving a planned buffer zone around Syria's last major rebel bastion of Idlib as set out under a Russian-Turkish deal.

New Syria law expands state regulation of religious affairs

By AFP

Damascus - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has signed into law a new bill expanding the powers of a government ministry overseeing religious affairs and limiting the term of the country's top Muslim cleric.

Thousands in Gaza mourn 7 killed in border clashes

By AFP

Gaza - Thousands of Palestinians attended funerals Saturday for seven young men shot dead a day earlier by Israeli troops during fresh demonstrations along the Gaza border, an AFP correspondent said.

Palestinian woman dies after West Bank stone-throwing

By AFP

Ramallah - A Palestinian woman died of her wounds after Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank threw stones at the car she was travelling in, Palestinian security sources and media said Saturday.

Taliban confirm meeting with US peace envoy in Qatar

By AFP

Kabul - A Taliban delegation has met with US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar to discuss ending the Afghan conflict, the militant group said Saturday, the first time either side has officially confirmed talks.

Suspended Gaza fuel deal shreds tough diplomatic efforts

By AFP

Ramallah - By suspending badly-needed fuel deliveries to the Gaza Strip after deadly clashes, Israel has cast doubts on the viability of the hard-won measure aimed at helping the Palestinian people and easing tensions.

Hundreds taken by IS from displacement camp in east Syria: monitor

By AFP

Beirut - Hundreds of people were taken by Islamic State group fighters from a displacement camp in east Syria during a jihadist counterattack against advancing US-backed forces, a monitor said Saturday.

Golan crossing point to reopen Monday: US

By AFP

New York - The United Nations, Israel and Syria reached an agreement to reopen the Quneitra crossing in the Golan Heights on Monday, the United States announced Friday, urging the two Middle East countries to facilitate the work of peacekeepers in the zone.

Israel halts Gaza fuel deliveries as 7 Palestinians killed

By AFP

Jerusalem - Israel suspended fuel deliveries to Gaza on Friday in response to border violence which the Hamas-run health ministry said left seven Palestinians dead in the coastal enclave.

Six Palestinians killed in clashes on Israel border: Gaza ministry

By AFP

Gaza - Six Palestinians were killed in new clashes along the Gaza-Israel border on Friday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said.The Israeli army said five were shot dead after breaking through the border fence and attacking an army post.

Aid groups worried as deadline looms for Syria's Idlib

By AFP

Beirut - Aid agencies on Friday warned of dire humanitarian consequences if a Russia-Turkey deal to avert a regime assault on Syria's last major rebel stronghold was not fully implemented within days.

Israel upholds ban on US student refused entry for 10 days

By AFP

Jerusalem - An Israeli court on Friday upheld a ban on a US student refused entry and held for 10 days over her alleged support for a pro-Palestinian boycott campaign.