A Russian-Turkish plan to end the war in Syria got off to a shaky start on Friday with the partial implementation of a new cease-fire agreement that excludes for now any involvement of the United States. There are hopes that this peace attempt will work where countless U.S.-backed...

Around 1,000 people protested Friday in central Baghdad demanding the release of an Iraqi female journalist after she was abducted by unknown gunmen. "Freedom for Afrah!" cried the demonstrators, who included many women, after Afrah Shawqi was seized Monday from her home in a southern...

(The Wall Street Journal)- A cease-fire appeared to be taking hold across Syria on Friday, despite allegations of violations by both sides, as government forces and armed rebel groups paused hostilities as part of a wider agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey to end the country’s nearly...

Iraqi forces faced car bombs and fierce resistance from ISIS militants in southern Mosul Friday, the second day of a renewed push to take back the city after fighting stalled for several weeks. An officer in the federal police forces, which joined the battle Thursday, said there were heavy...