Michel Aoun set to be elected president of Lebanon

Election by parliament will end 2½ years of caretaker government and no head of state

Iraq begins offensive to retake Isis stronghold of Falluja

Residents flee fighting as prime minister announces ‘liberation of Falluja has arrived’

Russia’s complex endgame move appears to target diplomatic gains

Putin’s focus on Syrian peace talks may be motivated by territorial ambition

Iraq preparing offensive to retake Mosul

Military is mobilising troops to retake the largest city controlled by Islamic State

Rouhani hails ‘golden page’ in Iran’s history as sanctions lifted

Islamic Republic emerges from years of economic isolation as measures come to end

Iran says international sanctions to be lifted on Saturday

UN nuclear agency to declare Tehran has complied with agreement to scale back its nuclear programme

Hundreds evacuated from besieged Syrian areas

Rebel factions holed up in Zabadani promised safe passage to Beirut airport

Buses enter besieged Syrian border town to evacuate fighters

Insurgents in the town of Zadabadi have been promised safe passage to Beirut airport under UN deal

Islamic State militants blow up ancient Palmyra arch

Antiquities expert says group now ‘blowing up buildings with no religious meaning’

Iran leader demands Saudi Arabia apologise for hajj deaths

Crush outside Mecca killed 769 worshippers performing the annual pilgrimage

Iran to take legal action against Saudi Arabia over hajj crush

Saudi cleric says disaster at Mecca in which at least 769 died was ‘beyond human control’

Truck bomb kills dozens in Baghdad

Refrigerated truck packed with explosives detonated in a crowded market in Sadr City

Islamic State’s evil genius and why it is thriving

Group combines medieval executions and slavery with Hollywood-worthy propaganda

Fighters battle Houthis in Yemen's southern city of Aden

UN-sponsored peace talks set for Geneva postponed because of ongoing conflict

Shia militia approach Islamic State-held areas from near Ramadi

Islamic State fighters raised a flag over Palmyra citadel yesterday

Islamic State now controls ‘more than half’ of Syrian territory

One third of Palmyra’s residents have fled from the militants, says UN

Iraqi forces attack Islamic State in Sunni Muslim heartland

Shia militia play leading role in bid to reverse ultra-radical insurgents’ advances

US ramping up arms supplies to Saudi-led alliance in Yemen

US: Saudi sending message to Houthis saying Yeman cannot be overrun by force

Pakistan has made no decision on sending troops to Yemen

Pakistan pledges to defend Saudi Arabia against threats, but no decision over military support

Future of Nusra Front in question after commander killed

Sunni Muslim militant group is one of the two most powerful anti-Assad forces in Syria

Islamic State torches oil field east of Tikrit

Oil wells set on fire as IS attempt to hinder aerial attacks aimed at pushing them out

Christians most persecuted and discriminated against worldwide

Most violations of religious freedom occur in Muslim countries

Lives lost to terrorism up by 61%, with 18,000 dead

Terrorism has grown significantly worldwide, with 60 countries affected, report finds

Suicide bomber kills at least 48 in Nigeria school attack

Explosion leaves up to 79 injured in restive town of Potiskum in country’s northeast

Dozens killed in Baghdad as Islamic State ramps up campaign

As many as 150 dead in Iraqi capital this week in car bombings and mortar attacks

21 dead in Turkey as tensions boil over Kobani crisis

Kurds rise up against government for inaction against Islamic State on southern border

First RAF attacks on Islamic State targets ‘successful’ in Iraq

Jets used guided bombs to strike heavy-weapon position and armed pick-up truck

Thousands of Syrian Kurds flee to Turkey as IS advances

Turkish deputy PM says 45,000 Syrian Kurds have crossed section of border since yesterday

French jets strike Islamic State target in Iraq

Islamic State has seized one third of country and large parts of neighbouring Syria

Saudi religious police issue rare apology for beating Briton

Man attacked in Riyadh supermarket after standing in women-only checkout aisle

Hizbullah leader sees Islamic State as growing ‘monster’

Hassan Nasrallah says radical group could easily recruit in other areas

Iraqi army drives rebels out of Saddam Hussein’s home town

US generals believe Baghdad can be defended but unsure how much ground can be reclaimed

Fighting continues in Tikrit after Isis declares ‘Caliphate’

Formation of ‘Islamic State’ is a threat to all countries, says Iraqi army

European stocks remain little changed despite spiking oil prices

Mining shares fall amid global outlook concerns

Voting begins in Iraq as violence grips a divided country

Iraqis head to polls in first national election since US withdrawal of troops

Dozens killed in attacks in Damascus and Homs

At least 50 killed in a series of attacks across Syria

Iraqi forces kill 57 Islamist militants in Sunni province

Deaths occurred near Ramadi, where anti-government tensions are running high

Al-Qaeda breaks link with Syrian militant group

Move seen as attempt to reassert authority over fragmented fighters in Syria’s civil war

Death toll from Syria’s civil war climbs to 130,000

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put number of women and children killed in the conflict at 11,709

Hizbullah blames Israel for Beirut killing of commander

Israel denies any part in killing of Hassan al-Laqqis in Hadath district of Lebanese capital

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