Heavy clashes between regime and rebel forces erupted in several areas of Syria's divided city of Aleppo late on Saturday after a unilateral ceasefire announced by government ally Russia expired. Moscow had extended the unilateral "humanitarian pause" into a third day until 1600 GMT on...

 An international inquiry found Syrian regime forces responsible for a third toxic gas attack, according to a confidential report submitted to the U.N. Security Council on Friday, setting the stage for a showdown between Russia and western council members over how to respond. The fourth...

(BBC)- Islamic State (IS) militants have raided government buildings in and around the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Iraqi media reported that suicide bombers had attacked police stations and a power station, but that security forces had repelled the assaults. A news agency affiliated to IS...

(theguardian)- Thousands of civilians have fled Mosul and its surrounding region to crowded refugee camps in war-torn Syria, aid officials have said, as Iraqi forces continued to advance on the most populous city under Islamic State control. At least 5,000 people, mostly women and children,...