Russia's defense ministry on Sunday denied bombing U.S.-backed rebels in southern Syria earlier this week.

Exasperated U.S. diplomats are in open revolt over Barack Obama's Syria policy, but radical change is unlikely in the twilight of his presidency.

More than 280,000 people have been killed. Millions more have fled their homes.

Fighting in the Iraqi city of Fallujah has displaced at least 30,000 people in three days, the Norwegian Refugee Council said Sunday, warning that a humanitarian disaster was unfolding.

An Egyptian court Saturday sentenced former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to life in prison in an espionage trial in which six co-defendants were handed death penalties.

Yemen's warring parties exchanged dozens of prisoners captured in fighting for third city Taez on Saturday following mediation by local tribes, the chief mediator said.

Saudi-backed government forces which control the city released 118 prisoners, while Iran-backed rebels who control most of the surrounding province freed 76, tribal chief Abdullatif al-Muradi said.

Islamic State group jihadists have launched a wave of suicide and car bombings to defend a besieged stronghold in northern Syria against US-backed fighters, a monitor said on Saturday.

Iraqi forces renewed their offensive against the Islamic State group around second city Mosul on Saturday after driving the jihadists out of most of Fallujah, the defense minister said.

The United States killed six a-Qaida fighters last week in three separate air strikes in central Yemen, the military said Friday.

U.S. President Barack Obama hosted youthful Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House Friday, underscoring his guest's meteoric rise and increasingly pivotal role in managing strained U.S.-Saudi ties.

The 30-year-old deputy crown prince -- who has become the driving force behind economic reform and a more activist Saudi foreign policy -- swept into the West Wing with a band of aides.

The Cypriot ex-wife of an Egyptian who hijacked a plane to Cyprus and is fighting extradition on Friday denied his claims of being a political activist and portrayed him as a common criminal.