U.S.-backed forces now have Islamic State fighters surrounded in central Raqqa, a Syrian Kurdish commander said, but he predicted that driving the militants out could take up to four months. "We've cleared about half of Old Raqqa ... and we're advancing on all axes," said Haval Gabar,...

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Failaq al-Rahman, key rebel group fighting regime forces in Eastern Ghouta, said on Thursday it had ambushed army’s elite forces in Ein Tarma, for the second time in 48 hours, leaving 20 soldiers, spokesman said. The elite forces of Fourth Armoured Division...

 (Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian regime warplanes carried out 10 raids on Hola region north of central Homs city, killing one person and wounding dozen, a week since Russia brokered a ceasefire deal and deployed its military police, local reporter said on Thursday. The strikes pounded town...

Israeli authorities have demolished three homes and sealed off a fourth of Palestinian nationals who carried out attacks that killed a soldier and a policewoman, the Israeli Army said on Thursday. Israel regularly carries out such demolitions, which it says act as a deterrent, but human...