An Israeli committee on Sunday approved a bill that if adopted would legalize outposts built without government permission in the West Bank, territory Palestinians demand for their future state. It still needs to pass several stages before it can be adopted. A first reading is expected in...

Iraqi troops entered a town south of Mosul on Sunday where Islamic State militants destroyed artefacts at a nearby ancient Assyrian archaeological site, while special forces fended off suicide bombers during a cautious advance into the northern city. The push into Nimrud was the most...

Syria has agreed to open its borders to Lebanese banana imports for 24 hours, local media reported Sunday. NBN said that the decision came following efforts made by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri with Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim. This comes one day after the Lebanese...

(The Guardian)- The Iraqi military says its forces have retaken Nimrud, the site of an ancient Assyrian city overrun by Islamic State militants two years ago. The commander of the Mosul operation, Lt Gen Abdul-Amir Raheed Yar Allah, said troops retook the town after heavy fighting and...