Halula / AFP US-backed fighters advanced to within five kilometres (three miles) of the IS group’s stronghold of Manbij in northern Syria, threatening a crucial extremist supply line. The assault by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) adds to the pressure on IS as it faces another offensive by Russian-backed regime troops in its bastion province of Raqa and in …

  Kuwait City/ AFP Yemen’s warring parties have pledged to free all child prisoners but have failed to reach agreement on a wider release for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the UN envoy said on Monday. “In the prisoners committee, an agreement was made on the unconditional release of children,” Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said in a statement. There …

  BAGHDAD / AFP The IS group has been shooting at civilians as they try to flee the fighting between Iraqi government forces and IS militants in the city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, an international aid organization says. A number of those fleeing civilians have been killed as they tried to cross the Euphrates River, the Norwegian Refugee Council, …