The Islamic State group vowed to shift its focus from the remnants of its "caliphate" towards Israel, in its first audio statement since confirming the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Nine months ago the Syrian regime and its ally Russia ramped up bombardments on Idlib province, the country's last major jihadist bastion after nearly nine years of conflict.

Yemen's Huthi rebels said Monday they had transferred 64 child soldiers captured during fighting to a rehabilitation centre and planned to release them in two months.

President Donald Trump dives into Israel's tense election Monday by hosting both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Benny Gantz ahead of unveiling a "peace plan" already rejected by the Palestinians.

Anti-government demonstrators rebuilt torched protest camps across Iraq on Monday, seeking to keep up their movement's momentum after a rocket attack on the US embassy in Baghdad threatened an escalation.

Palestinian officials threatened Sunday to withdraw from key provisions of the Oslo Accords, which define relations with Israel, if U.S. President Donald Trump announces his Middle East peace plan next week. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that work was underway to construct homes inside Syria for people fleeing the war-torn country's last rebel-held stronghold.

Security forces shot live rounds to clear protest hotspots in Baghdad and southern Iraq for a second day Sunday, sparking skirmishes with demonstrators determined to keep up their movement.

The United Nations mission to Libya has slammed ongoing violations of a 2011 U.N. Security Council arms embargo, despite commitments made a week ago at an international summit in Berlin.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced hope Sunday that he can "make history" in Washington this week during talks on US President Donald Trump's peace plan for the Middle East.