The Pentagon on Wednesday denied a report that President Donald Trump had rebuffed Defense Secretary Jim Mattis after the Pentagon chief urged him to seek congressional approval for last week's air strikes in Syria.

A U.N. security team was fired at on Tuesday while on a reconnaissance mission in the Syrian town of Douma to prepare the deployment of experts investigating an alleged chemical attack, officials said on Wednesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday sent his “best wishes” to Israelis and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel marked 70 years since its creation.

“Best wishes to Prime Minister @Netanyahu and all of the people of Israel on the 70th Anniversary of your Great Independence. We have no better friends anywhere,” Trump tweeted.

The world's chemical arms watchdog froze its probe into an alleged chemical attack near Damascus Wednesday, demanding "unhindered access" after a U.N. reconnaissance mission came under fire.

Israel readied to mark 70 years since its creation on Wednesday while celebrating its improbable economic success and military prowess, but facing a range of political and security challenges.

Iraqi courts have sentenced to death a total of more than 300 people, including dozens of foreigners, for belonging to the Islamic State group, judicial sources said Wednesday.

Egypt's military said Wednesday it had killed a jihadist leader in the Sinai Peninsula, where the Islamic State group is carrying out an insurgency.

Five Palestinians were injured by Israeli fire along the Gaza border Wednesday, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said, with tensions high over recent protests and clashes there.

Syrian regime forces shelled the last pockets in Damascus controlled by the Islamic State group, preparing the ground for a possible assault on the jihadist stronghold, a monitor said Wednesday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has reaffirmed the kingdom's willingness to deploy troops to Syria as part of U.S.-led efforts to stabilize the conflict-torn country.