An Iraqi army elite unit and Kurdish fighters on Thursday launched a fresh offensive to dislodge Islamic State militants from villages around Mosul, their last major city stronghold in Iraq, with the air and ground support of the U.S.-led coalition. Howitzer and mortar fire started at 6:00...

Turkish warplanes struck Syrian Kurdish militia targets in northern Syria and killed up to 200 militants, state media quoted the military as saying Thursday. The jets hit 18 targets in Maarrat Umm Hawsh, a region north of the city of Aleppo, the official news agency Anadolu said....

The Syrian regime military said on Thursday a unilateral ceasefire backed by Russia had come into force to allow people to leave besieged eastern Aleppo, a move that the rebels have said was part of a psychological campaign to get them to surrender. State media earlier said the army had opened...

  French President Francois Hollande said in Berlin summit he has the impression after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin that a pause in fighting in Aleppo may be extended. Russia has promised an eight-hour halt in fighting on Thursday in the besieged city. Hollande said early...