The Iraqi army's failure to recapture the country's largest oil refinery from Islamic State after 15 months of fighting is calling into question the government's plans to retake the northern city of Mosul from the jihadists. Iraq's military has been trying to build momentum at the Baiji...

Israel will impose a minimum four-year jail term on Palestinian petrol bombers and rock throwers and will ease open-fire regulations and impose harsher fines, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday. The Israeli leader's "Security Cabinet" of senior ministers agreed measures...

Turkey's Prime Minister will tell world leaders next week Ankara can play a key role in stopping a spread of terrorism, including Islamic State, but expected understanding for its own battle against Kurdish militants. Washington, while considering the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) a...

The head of Iran's hajj organization blames Saudi "mismanagement" for a crush of pilgrims outside Mecca that killed hundreds of people, including 21 Iranian pilgrims. Saeed Ohadi told state TV by phone from Saudi Arabia that the incident might have been caused by the closure of a road. State...