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Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric urges neighbors to curb militants

Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said on Friday regional states were not doing enough to stop the flow of militants into Iraq, and warned that the fighters would return one day to threaten their home countries. Islamic State has attracted Sunni Muslim...

Turkey detains 21 on suspicion of belonging to Islamic State

Police staged raids across Turkey on Friday, detaining 21 people, most suspected of belonging to Islamic State, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Three of the detainees were foreigners, and authorities believe they were planning to enter Syria to fight for Islamic State,...

Turkish prime minister asked to form new government

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to form new government, the presidential press office said on Thursday. "As of now we have started efforts to fulfill this duty and firstly we will hold talks with the chairmen of political parties," Davutoglu...

Israel says citizen being held by Hamas in Gaza Strip

An Israeli civilian is being held against his will by the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel said on Thursday. Hamas, the Palestinian enclave's dominant faction, declined to comment. Israel suspects militants in Gaza would use its citizens to bargain for the release of Palestinians...