Fighting between Syrian rebel and government forces eased on Saturday as a Russian-led effort to shore up a ceasefire took effect, although battles continued on important frontlines near Hama and Damascus, rebels and a war monitor said. The deal to create "de-escalation" zones in the major...

Two Israeli air strikes against Hezbollah targets in Syria in recent weeks seem to mark a more openly assertive stance toward the group after years of shadow boxing, requiring careful calibration to avoid escalation into a war that neither wants. For most of the six-year-long conflict in...

Extremist fighters killed at least 10 soldiers in the western Iraqi province of Anbar Tuesday in their latest deadly attack on security forces in the area, officers said. The latest attack near the remote outpost of Rutba brought to at least 26 the number of members of the Iraqi security...

Syrian government forces used deadly nerve gas in Khan Sheikhoun and in three other recent attacks, Human Rights Watch said Monday, describing a "clear pattern" of chemical weapons use that could amount to crimes against humanity. President Bashar Assad's forces are also stepping up chlorine...