In Trump meeting, Iraq PM says US troops to withdraw by Sept. 30 The White House appeared to support a deadline to remove remaining American counter-ISIS troops from Iraq, but security concerns among Washington's Kurdish partners and US business firms remain. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
At least 6 killed, 22 wounded in Damascus cafe explosion: What to know Syrian authorities have yet to identify a perpetrator in relation to the incident, and armed groups opposing the transitional government did not immediately take credit. Syria
Turkey captures alleged ISIS-K media chief near Afghanistan-Pakistan border The capture comes as Turkish authorities intensify raids against Islamic State networks following recent attacks and alleged plots. Turkey
Syria restores Raqqa oil field in former ISIS stronghold: What to know Before Syria's civil war erupted in 2011, national oil production stood at between 400,000 and 500,00 barrels per day before falling to under 100,000 bpd during the conflict. Syria
Analysis 'Is it worth it?' Syria's Sharaa faces backlash over Missy Elliott performance By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Foreign IS fighters face justice in Baghdad criminal court The Iraqi Central Criminal Court in Baghdad began trying foreign fighters who joined the Islamic State and were captured in the war to liberate Iraqi territory from IS. Iraq
US-Turkey cooperation against Islamic State ongoing, Pentagon says Ankara and Washington remain committed to the joint mission of rooting out Islamic State holdouts despite the diplomatic row over Pastor Andrew Brunson, Pentagon and State Department officials say. Syria
IS targets rural area near Baghdad Tarmiya, a rural area near Baghdad, is in the sights of the Islamic State; sleeper cells there are spreading through the Mashhadani tribe. Iraq
Not everyone in Iraq welcomes peshmerga's possible return to Kirkuk As Iraq's central and Kurdish governments tentatively make nice again, the potential return of the Kurdish peshmerga to Kirkuk has some groups in the country on edge. Iraq
Iran readjusts its Syria strategy amid Russia’s changing role Having achieved military victory in the key southwestern region of Syria, Iran is actively maneuvering to redefine its approach to securing its aims in the war-torn country. Israel
Terrorist attack on Erbil government building raises concern in Iraqi Kurdistan An attack on an Erbil government building highlights homegrown terror networks and reveals dangerous security fissures in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Iraq
Renewal of anti-terror law threatens human rights in Iraqi Kurdistan The Iraqi Kurdistan parliament has extended an austere law put in place to combat the Islamic State, raising serious concerns about human rights abuses and trials behind closed doors. Iraq
Iraq struggles to provide war orphans with identities The living victims of the war in Iraq against the Islamic State include children whose parents were killed or can't be identified. Iraq
IS remains a threat in Iraqi desert, tribal villages Popular Mobilization Units are conducting regular patrols in the Iraqi desert to prevent activity by Islamic State sleeper cells. Iraq
Islamic State awakens sleeper cells in Iraq's Kirkuk The Islamic State is gradually rekindling its terrorist activities in Iraq through sleeper cells in Kirkuk province, where security is already stretched thin by political unrest. Iraq
IS killings and kidnappings in central Iraq raise questions The desert area west of Salahuddin and other depopulated areas have faced a spate of kidnappings and killings claimed by the Islamic State. Iraq
Armed opposition infighting triggers uptick in IS attacks in northern Syria The Islamic State escalated its attacks in northern Syria, taking advantage of the infighting between the Syrian armed factions controlling the areas there. Syria
