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Iraq

Iraqi forces '72 hours' away from centre of ISIL-held Tikrit

Iraqi military officials say they expect to reach the centre of Tikrit in 72 hours. Backed by their mainly Shi’ite militia allies, forces have been

Libya

Libyan peace talks falter as fighting continues

There are fears of an early and fruitless end to the UN’s Libyan peace talks. Delegates convened again on Friday as the second week ended to find

Ukraine

Deadline looms for Kyiv's decision for special status regions in east Ukraine

Separatists in the east of Ukraine are threatening to breach the ceasefire if Kyiv fails to adopt measures giving the break-away regions special status.

World

Syria's blackout demonstrates deadly entry into fifth year of civil war

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My Europe Series

Shelling or shelter: the impossible choice facing battle-weary Ukrainians

In war-ravaged areas of east Ukraine people face not only incredible hardship but also a torturous dilemma: to flee or to stay. While no one wants to

Iraq

IS talks tough but loses ground in Iraq

Street fighting continues in Tikrit in Iraq after the Iraqi army entered the city yesterday and engaged with IS forces. The army, led by Shia militia

France

French say man close to Mohammed Merah is IS killer in video

French officials now appear convinced the unidentified jihadi in a video which purports to show the execution of a prisoner of the so-called Islamic

Iraq

Iraq PM seeks to reassure Tikrit's Sunnis before imminent Shi'ite assault

Iraqi forces and largely Shi'ite militia, believed to be Iranian-backed, are poised to retake Tikrit from ISIL. The authorities say action is being taken in the face of fears for the majority Sunni po

Iraq

Battle for Tikrit: Iraqi forces 'advancing on city centre'

Iraqi and Shi’ite militia men have entered parts of the city of Tikrit in a key test for Iraqi forces in their battle against ISIL militants. It is

Syria

ISIL launches offensive against Kurdish forces in northeast Syria

Fighting intensifies in northeast Syria between ISIL and Kurdish forces, focusing on Ras al-Ayn. It appears ISIL is attempting to seize back control after Kurds made significant gains in recent weeks.

Iraq

Iraqi army and militia advance into Tikrit as ISIL retreat

Iraqi security forces and Shi’ite militia fighters have captured part of the largest district of Tikrit from the self-proclaimed Islamic State group

Nigeria

Nigeria announces further victories in fight against Boko Haram

Nigeria’s military says coalition forces have almost entirely recaptured the former Boko Haram stronghold of Yobe State, in the northeast of the

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After battle, church in Donetsk lies in ruins

Syria

ISIL militants release latest propaganda execution video

The parents of a 19-year-old Israeli Arab, who appears to have been shot dead in the latest ISIL video have denied their son way a spy. Visibly

Ukraine

Ukraine: 'Dogs ate bodies' as locals struggled to bury the dead in Debaltseve

The agreement struck in Minsk for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine did little to stop the fierce fighting in Debaltseve. Situated on a railway

Iraq

The route to Mosul: Iraqi forces close in on Tikrit

The US military has announced coalition forces carried out eight air strikes against ISIL militants in Iraq over a 24-hour period around March 9

Nigeria

Boko Haram 'loses ground' in Nigeria

Military sources in Nigeria say their ground forces are starting to reclaim areas seized by Boko Haram militants. In the past months, the Islamist

Ukraine

Ukraine: Poroshenko confirms 'significant' heavy weapon pullback by pro-Russia rebels

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko says he accepts that pro-Russian rebels have withdrawn a “significant” amount of heavy weaponry from the

Russia

Putin's secret plan to seize Crimea

President Vladimir Putin has revealed what went on behind the Kremlin’s closed doors in the vital hours before last year’s annexation of Crimea. In a

Iraq

ISIL-held refinery in Syria is hit in US-led airstrike

Dozens of people have been reported killed after US-led planes hit a petrol refinery controlled by ISIL militants in the Syrian border town of Tel

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