U.S.-led coalition stages 31 air strikes on Islamic State: statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies targeted Islamic State militants with 22 air strikes in Iraq on Friday and nine in Syria, the Command Joint Task Force said on Saturday.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader says Iran will not abandon support after nuclear deal
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Lebanese Hezbollah group believes it can still count on Iran’s support following Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers, leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Saturday.
Turkey strikes Islamic State, Kurdish militants in drive for ‘safe zone’
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish fighter jets and ground forces hit Islamic State militants in Syria and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) camps in Iraq on Saturday, in a campaign Ankara said would help create a “safe zone” across swathes of northern Syria.
Saudi king’s French Riviera holiday provokes beach protest
NICE, France (Reuters) – Saudi King Salman and a 1,000-entourage arrived on Saturday for holiday on the French Riviera, where over 100,000 residents have petitioned against the closure of the public beach outside his villa.
Bahrain says foils arms smuggling bid, recalls Iran envoy
ABU DHABU/DUBAI (Reuters) – Bahrain said on Saturday it had foiled an arms smuggling plot by two Bahrainis with ties to Iran and announced the recall of the Gulf island kingdom’s ambassador to Tehran for consultations after what it said were repeated h…
Netherlands’ worst July storm kills one, causes transport chaos
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – One person was killed as the most severe July storm ever recorded in the Netherlands swept across the country on Saturday, delaying flights and disrupting road and rail traffic.
Al Shabaab kill three people in Somali capital, including politician
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somali militant group Al Shabaab said it had carried out two attacks in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday in which gunmen killed a lawmaker and his bodyguard as well as an official from the prime minister’s office.
Spain’s Podemos losing support amongst voters: poll
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s anti-austerity party Podemos slipped further behind two mainstream parties in a poll published by the El Pais daily on Saturday, less than six months before a parliamentary election expected in November.
Bomb attacks at swimming pool in northern Iraq kill at least 12
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – At least 12 people were killed on Saturday when two suicide bombers attacked a crowded swimming pool in northern Iraq, a local official and police sources said. The attacks in the town of Tuz Khurmatu, about 175 km (110 miles) north…
Islamic State detonates suicide bombs in Syrian town near Turkish border
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State militants on Saturday detonated explosive laden trucks in two villages near the Kurdish-controlled Syrian border town of Tel Abyad, with reports of casualties, a monitor that tracks the war said.




