Syria announces capture of senior ISIS official near Manbij: What to know Abu Jihad al-Muhajir is the highest-profile alleged Islamic State official captured by Syrian government forces since US troops withdrew from the country in April. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
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
Iran claims Israel behind shrine attack, pledges revenge The shooting renewed debates on Iran's intelligence failures in thwarting deadly attacks in contrast to the official assertion that the country is an "island of stability" in a volatile Middle East. Iran
Islamic State attack kills 26 Syrian soldiers, third in 2 weeks The deadly attack, the group’s third this month, follows the death of another one of its leaders. Syria
US, Iraq defense chiefs discuss post-Islamic State strategy Congress has long sought answers as to how the Pentagon plans to prepare Iraq’s military forces to stand on their own after the defeat of the Islamic State. This week, the Biden administration took a first step. Iraq
Islamic State attack in Raqqa kills 10 Syrian soldiers, second in a week IS militants attacked several positions and checkpoints of the Syrian government and allied fighters in the group’s former stronghold of Raqqa. Syria
Culture Iraq's Mosul rises from Islamic State ashes to rebuild minarets, museum As Mosul makes a slow revival from the remnants of war, a host of challenges remain, including corrupt officials and institutional weaknesses in Iraq. Iraq
Blinken urges coalition partners to repatriate Islamic State fighters in Syria At a gathering in Riyadh of the global alliance to defeat IS, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked partners to repatriate their detained citizens and announced new funding for stabilization work in Iraq and Syria. Syria
Syrian girls play soccer among ghosts of Islamic State Raqqa's first-ever girls' soccer team is blooming where Islamic State once terrorized the society. Syria
Islamic State women use children as 'sex tools,' Syrian Kurdish officials say Officials in northeast Syria tell Al-Monitor that women in Islamic State internment camps are forcing young boys to impregnate women as part of an alleged IS campaign to "go forth and multiply." Syria
Syria’s Kurds turn to UAE to ease tensions with Assad An alleged trip to the UAE capital by Syrian Democratic Forces chief Mazloum Kobane, which Emirati officials deny, came just before he was targeted by a Turkish drone last month. Legacy: Gulf
US does not confirm Turkey’s claim of killing Islamic State leader in Syria The US administration said it had no information to support Ankara’s claim to have killed the Islamic State leader. Turkey
Taliban kill Islamic State official behind Kabul airport bombing The Biden administration has yet to reveal the identity of the alleged ISIS-K "mastermind" behind the August 2021 bombing at Abbey gate. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Turkey detains six Islamic State, al-Qaeda suspects Turkey has stepped up its security operations against terrorist groups, ahead of the decisive May 14 elections. Turkey
