Aden / AFP An apparent US drone strike killed three suspected Al-Qaeda members on Thursday in Yemen, including a mid-ranking commander, security officials said. A missile destroyed a vehicle which the three suspects were using in the region of Sawmaa in central Baida province, the officials said. One security official said extremists had recently sought refugee in the vicinity …

  Baghdad / AFP Iraq announced on Thursday that its forces have recaptured a northern town from the IS group in an operation launched ahead of a push for the city of Mosul. Security forces began the operation on Tuesday to oust the IS group from Sharqat, a town near supply lines needed for the battle to retake second city …

  Baghdad / AFP Iraq has promised to recapture Mosul by year’s end and US top brass have hinted an operation could start next month, but the offensive to retake the extremist bastion faces serious challenges. Mosul, Iraq’s second city, is the ultimate prize in the country’s war against the IS group, which seized it and swathes of other territory …