Now playing Next Syria Militant jihadist group ISIL pose a new threat in the Middle East It emerged as an offshoot of al-Qaeda and was reinforced by the chaos generated by the civil war in Syria. In 2014 the self-styled Islamic State 19/12/2014
Now playing Next Iraq Peshmerga assault frees Yazidis trapped for months on Mount Sinjar In Iraq’s Kurdistan region a two-day military assault by Peshmerga forces has helped free hundreds of minority Yazidi people who have been trapped on 18/12/2014
Now playing Next Iraq Tight security as millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims stream into Kerbala, Iraq Millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims from across Iraq, Iran and neighbouring countries have streamed into Iraq’s holy city of Kerbala over the past 13/12/2014
Now playing Next Iraq Pilgrims defy ISIL militants flocking to Kerbala in record numbers One person has been killed by rocket fire in the Iraqi city of Kerbala where Shi’ite pilgrims gathered for religious ceremonies. Despite the threat 12/12/2014
Now playing Next Iraq Shi'ite pilgrims flock to Kerbala despite security threat Roads and highways across Iraq have filled with hundreds of thousands of Shi’ite pilgrims heading to Kerbala to celebrate a religious ceremony amid 11/12/2014
Now playing Next world news Gulf states agree need for solidarity against ISIL The six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who have been holding a summit in Doha, have agreed the need to confront militant forces such 10/12/2014
Now playing Next USA CIA's actions a 'stain on US history', says Senate Intelligence Committee head The Senate Intelligence Committee report details CIA failings in counter-terror programme and enhanced interrogation techniques following 9/11 attacks. 09/12/2014
Now playing Next USA Details of CIA torture report released The US Senate Intelligence Committee revealed the findings of its report into post 9/11 terror suspect interrogation techniques in Washington. 09/12/2014
Now playing Next Culture news Lyon's Festival of Lights gives renewed hope to Erbil's Christian refugees Originally a celebration of the Catholic faith, the Festival of Lights born in the French city of Lyon has today grown into a world-renowned cultural 09/12/2014
Now playing Next Iraq Iraqi forces to get extra 1,500 coalition support troops, says US Iraqi and Peshmerga forces fighting the self-proclaimed Islamic State group will soon have extra backup from coalition allies. The US military says a 09/12/2014
Now playing Next Iran Syria and Iraq FMs in Tehran for 'anti-terrorism' conference The Syrian foreign minister Walid Mualem is in Tehran for conference on combating extremism, which will also be attended by his Iraqi counterpart 08/12/2014
Now playing Next Iraq Pope sends message of support to Christians and other minority groups in Iraq and Syria 07/12/2014
Now playing Next Iraq Pope delivers message in support of Christian and Yazidi refugees Pope Francis has delivered a video message in support of tens of thousands of minority Yazidi and Christian refugees who fled ISIL militants in 06/12/2014
Now playing Next Iraq Euronews visits Christian and Yazidi refugees who fled ISIL militants Euronews has visited Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region. When the militant group that calls itself Islamic State (ISIL) attacked the 06/12/2014
Now playing Next Syria Kurdish fighters vow to go on fighting as long as the ISIL threat remains. Women Kurdish peshmerga are fighting alongside their male compatriots to repel the ISIL assault on Kobani on the Syrian border with Turkey. The siege there has a become a powerful international symbol 05/12/2014
Now playing Next Syria Kerry says ISIL has been damaged by US-led coalition but battle may take 'years' The US-led coalition fighting ISIL has inflicted serious damage on the extremists, carrying out around 1,000 airstrikes so far in Syria and Iraq 03/12/2014
Now playing Next Iraq Confusion over claims Iranian jets are attacking ISIL in Iraq Despite US claims co-ordination with Iran in Iraq would be "inappropriate", and Iran ruling out American influence in Iraq post-ISIL, Iranian F4 jets have reportedly bombed ISIL in Iraq 03/12/2014