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    • FILE - in this file photo taken on Jan. 16, 2012 Iraqi security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack outside the northern city of Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq. Al-Qaida's Iraq arm is gaining strength in the restive northern city of Mosul, reviving its fundraising efforts through gangland-style shakedowns, feeding off anti-government anger and increasingly carrying out attacks with impunity. It is a worrying development for Iraq's third-largest city, one of its main gateways to Syria, as voters prepare to cast ballots for local leaders and al-Qaida makes a push to establish itself as a dominant force among the rebels fighting to topple the Syrian regime. (AP Photo, File)
      In northern Iraqi city, al-Qaida gathers strength SAMEER N. YACOUB and ADAM SCHRECK - Associated Press - 12 mins ago

      BAGHDAD (AP) — Al-Qaida's Iraq arm is gathering strength in the restive northern city of Mosul, ramping up its fundraising through gangland-style shakedowns and feeding … More »In northern Iraqi city, al-Qaida gathers strength

      FILE - in this file photo taken on Jan. 16, 2012 Iraqi security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack outside the northern city of Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq. Al-Qaida's Iraq arm is gaining strength in the restive northern city of Mosul, reviving its fundraising efforts through gangland-style shakedowns, feeding off anti-government anger and increasingly carrying out attacks with impunity. It is a worrying development for Iraq's third-largest city, one of its main gateways to Syria, as voters prepare to cast ballots for local leaders and al-Qaida makes a push to establish itself as a dominant force among the rebels fighting to topple the Syrian regime. (AP Photo, File)

      BAGHDAD (AP) — Al-Qaida's Iraq arm is gathering strength in the restive northern city of Mosul, ramping up its fundraising through gangland-style shakedowns and feeding off anti-government anger as it increasingly carries out attacks with impunity, according to residents and officials.

    • Syrian refugee worker, Mohammed Ali, 25, from Yalda, Damascus, organizes ice cream cups, at the Bakdash ice cream store, in Amman, Jordan, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. For Syrians, no visit to Damascus' Old City is complete without a stop at a more than century-old ice cream parlor in its main souq where you can watch them make their distinctive desert by pounding it into shape with giant wooden mallets, then enjoy a bowl of it sprinkled with pistachios. A painting of a neighborhood in Old Damascus is seen at background. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)
      Syrian exiles get taste of home: Beloved ice cream DALE GAVLAK - Associated Press - 10 hrs ago

      AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — For Syrians, no visit to Damascus' Old City is complete without a stop at a more than century-old ice cream parlor in its main souq where you can … More »Syrian exiles get taste of home: Beloved ice cream

      Syrian refugee worker, Mohammed Ali, 25, from Yalda, Damascus, organizes ice cream cups, at the Bakdash ice cream store, in Amman, Jordan, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. For Syrians, no visit to Damascus' Old City is complete without a stop at a more than century-old ice cream parlor in its main souq where you can watch them make their distinctive desert by pounding it into shape with giant wooden mallets, then enjoy a bowl of it sprinkled with pistachios. A painting of a neighborhood in Old Damascus is seen at background. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)

      AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — For Syrians, no visit to Damascus' Old City is complete without a stop at a more than century-old ice cream parlor in its main souq where you can watch them make their distinctive desert by pounding it into shape with giant wooden mallets, then enjoy a bowl of it sprinkled with pistachios.

    • An Iraqi soldier casts his vote at a polling center during early voting for security forces in the country's provincial elections in Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, June 17, 2013. In the western town of Fallujah, a suicide bomber set off explosives among a group of policemen, killing several and wounding more than a dozen. The policemen were waiting for buses to take them to a polling station to cast their ballots for Iraq's provincial elections. (AP Photo)
      Iraqis vote in 2 Sunni-dominated provinces Associated Press - 49 mins ago

      BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi state TV says voters have begun casting ballots in two Sunni-dominated provinces amid tight security aimed at thwarting insurgent attempts to disrupt … More »Iraqis vote in 2 Sunni-dominated provinces

      An Iraqi soldier casts his vote at a polling center during early voting for security forces in the country's provincial elections in Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, June 17, 2013. In the western town of Fallujah, a suicide bomber set off explosives among a group of policemen, killing several and wounding more than a dozen. The policemen were waiting for buses to take them to a polling station to cast their ballots for Iraq's provincial elections. (AP Photo)

      BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi state TV says voters have begun casting ballots in two Sunni-dominated provinces amid tight security aimed at thwarting insurgent attempts to disrupt the elections.

    • FILE - In this Thursday, June 14, 2012 file photo, Syrian security forces at the site where a car bomb exploded near the shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, background, in a suburb of Damascus, Syria. Hezbollah fighters join Syrian forces in battling rebels in a Damascus suburb that is home to a revered Shiite Muslim shrine, in a push to secure the area around the golden domed mosque. Protection of the Sayida Zeinab shrine has become a rallying cry for Shiite fighters backing President Bashar Assad, raising the stakes in a conflict that is increasingly being fought along sectarian lines. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi, File)
      Syria troops fight rebels near major Shiite shrine ZEINA KARAM - Associated Press - 9 hrs ago

      BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah fighters joined Syrian forces in battling rebels in a Damascus suburb that is home to a revered Shiite Muslim shrine, in a push to secure the … More »Syria troops fight rebels near major Shiite shrine

      FILE - In this Thursday, June 14, 2012 file photo, Syrian security forces at the site where a car bomb exploded near the shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, background, in a suburb of Damascus, Syria. Hezbollah fighters join Syrian forces in battling rebels in a Damascus suburb that is home to a revered Shiite Muslim shrine, in a push to secure the area around the golden domed mosque. Protection of the Sayida Zeinab shrine has become a rallying cry for Shiite fighters backing President Bashar Assad, raising the stakes in a conflict that is increasingly being fought along sectarian lines. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi, File)

      BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah fighters joined Syrian forces in battling rebels in a Damascus suburb that is home to a revered Shiite Muslim shrine, in a push to secure the area around the ornate, golden domed mosque.

    • Syria infiltrators, Jordan military clash, 1 dead JAMAL HALABY - Associated Press - 10 hrs ago

      ZAIN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's military says infiltrators from Syria have clashed with Jordanian soldiers near the border. One infiltrator was killed and two wounded. More »Syria infiltrators, Jordan military clash, 1 dead

      ZAIN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's military says infiltrators from Syria have clashed with Jordanian soldiers near the border. One infiltrator was killed and two wounded.

    • FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011 file photo, Ahmed el-Tayeb the grand sheik of Cairo's Al-Azhar, the pre-eminent theological institute of Sunni Islam, talks to the media in Cairo, Egypt. El-Tayeb said on Wednesday that peaceful protests against the president are permitted, dismissing declarations by Islamist hard-liners that those behind protests planned for June 30 are heretics. (AP Photo, File)
      Egypt top cleric: Protests against Morsi permitted HAMZA HENDAWI - AP - 11 hrs ago

      CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's top Muslim cleric declared Wednesday that peaceful protests against the president are permitted, in a snub to hard-line Islamist backers of Mohammed … More »Egypt top cleric: Protests against Morsi permitted

      FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011 file photo, Ahmed el-Tayeb the grand sheik of Cairo's Al-Azhar, the pre-eminent theological institute of Sunni Islam, talks to the media in Cairo, Egypt. El-Tayeb said on Wednesday that peaceful protests against the president are permitted, dismissing declarations by Islamist hard-liners that those behind protests planned for June 30 are heretics. (AP Photo, File)

      CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's top Muslim cleric declared Wednesday that peaceful protests against the president are permitted, in a snub to hard-line Islamist backers of Mohammed Morsi who declared that those behind opposition protests planned for June 30 are heretics.

    • Bombings kill 7 people in Iraq SINAN SALAHEDDIN - AP - 12 hrs ago

      BAGHDAD (AP) — Bomb attacks in Iraq have killed seven people, including a local political leader and four of his relatives, authorities said Wednesday. More »Bombings kill 7 people in Iraq

      BAGHDAD (AP) — Bomb attacks in Iraq have killed seven people, including a local political leader and four of his relatives, authorities said Wednesday.

    • Iran's electoral watchdog approves election result AP - 13 hrs ago

      TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's state TV is reporting the country's election overseer, the Guardian Council, has approved Friday's presidential election result, affirming … More »Iran's electoral watchdog approves election result

      TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's state TV is reporting the country's election overseer, the Guardian Council, has approved Friday's presidential election result, affirming a first-round victory by a relative moderate.

    • Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, speaks with Canada's foreign minister John Baird during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, June 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
      Palestinians toughen line on Israel talks MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH - AP - 13 hrs ago

      RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian president and his Fatah movement on Wednesday signaled a tough line on talks with Israel, casting new doubt on U.S. efforts … More »Palestinians toughen line on Israel talks

      Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, speaks with Canada's foreign minister John Baird during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, June 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

      RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian president and his Fatah movement on Wednesday signaled a tough line on talks with Israel, casting new doubt on U.S. efforts to revive long-stalled negotiations.

    • Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, speaks with Canada's foreign minister John Baird during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, June 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
      Palestinian party toughens line on Israel talks MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH - AP - 14 hrs ago

      RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian president and his Fatah movement on Wednesday signaled a tough line on talks with Israel, casting new doubt on U.S. efforts … More »Palestinian party toughens line on Israel talks

      Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, speaks with Canada's foreign minister John Baird during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, June 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

      RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian president and his Fatah movement on Wednesday signaled a tough line on talks with Israel, casting new doubt on U.S. efforts to revive long-stalled negotiations.

    • Israel to export 40 percent of its natural gas AP - 14 hrs ago

      JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has decided to export 40 percent of the natural gas it expects to produce from offshore wells, keeping a larger amount for local use than exp … More »Israel to export 40 percent of its natural gas

      JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has decided to export 40 percent of the natural gas it expects to produce from offshore wells, keeping a larger amount for local use than expected.

    • Correction: Jordan-Syria-War Games story AP - 15 hrs ago

      ZARQA, Jordan (AP) — In a June 18 story about U.S.-led war games in Jordan, The Associated Press reported erroneously the organization that employs Tawfiq Hennawi. He … More »Correction: Jordan-Syria-War Games story

      ZARQA, Jordan (AP) — In a June 18 story about U.S.-led war games in Jordan, The Associated Press reported erroneously the organization that employs Tawfiq Hennawi. He works for the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, not the International Committee of the Red Cross.

    • UAE charges 30 suspects with plotting coup AP - 15 hrs ago

      ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates broadened its crackdown on perceived threats and risked deepening its rift with Egypt on Wednesday with … More »UAE charges 30 suspects with plotting coup

      ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates broadened its crackdown on perceived threats and risked deepening its rift with Egypt on Wednesday with plans to bring 30 Egyptian and UAE suspects to trial for alleged coup plotting linked to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

    • This Tuesday, June 18, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Aleppo Media Center AMC, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows a Syrian rebel shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria. A group of U.S. Senators want to see the U.S. do more than provide arms to some of the outgunned rebels in the bloody civil war in Syria. Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez and Carl Levin and Republican John McCain say in a joint letter to Obama that the U.S. should consider targeting regime airfields, runways and aircraft, and help rebels establish safe zones in Syria. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center AMC)
      Syria troops fight rebels near Shiite shrine SARAH EL DEEB - AP - 16 hrs ago

      BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops backed by Lebanese Hezbollah fighters clashed Wednesday with rebel forces south of a Damascus suburb that is home to a major Shiite Muslim … More »Syria troops fight rebels near Shiite shrine

      This Tuesday, June 18, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Aleppo Media Center AMC, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows a Syrian rebel shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria. A group of U.S. Senators want to see the U.S. do more than provide arms to some of the outgunned rebels in the bloody civil war in Syria. Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez and Carl Levin and Republican John McCain say in a joint letter to Obama that the U.S. should consider targeting regime airfields, runways and aircraft, and help rebels establish safe zones in Syria. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center AMC)

      BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops backed by Lebanese Hezbollah fighters clashed Wednesday with rebel forces south of a Damascus suburb that is home to a major Shiite Muslim shrine, in an attempt to secure the area surrounding the revered site, activists said.

    • Iraq officials say suicide attack kills politician SINAN SALAHEDDIN - AP - 17 hrs ago

      BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials say a suicide attack has killed a local political leader and four of his relatives in northern Iraq. More »Iraq officials say suicide attack kills politician

      BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials say a suicide attack has killed a local political leader and four of his relatives in northern Iraq.

    • Tourism workers and activists in Luxor protest a newly appointed Islamist governor and block his office Tuesday June 18, 2013. Adel el-Khayat was named to the provincial governor's post Sunday by President Mohammed Morsi, causing outrage because of his links to Gamaa Islamiya, which waged an armed insurgency against the state starting in 1992 and attacked police, Coptic Christians and tourists. Tourism is the lifeblood of Luxor but it has been hit hard by the downturn in foreign visitors since the Arab Spring unleashed political turmoil since 2011. Signs in Arabic read, "The plot you are hatching, we will undo" and "leave terrorist." (AP Photo/Ibrahim Zayed)
      Egypt Islamists blame violence on opposition AP - 17 hrs ago

      CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's most powerful Muslim group on Wednesday blamed the secular and liberal opposition for a wave of violence over the appointment of new Islamist go … More »Egypt Islamists blame violence on opposition

      Tourism workers and activists in Luxor protest a newly appointed Islamist governor and block his office Tuesday June 18, 2013. Adel el-Khayat was named to the provincial governor's post Sunday by President Mohammed Morsi, causing outrage because of his links to Gamaa Islamiya, which waged an armed insurgency against the state starting in 1992 and attacked police, Coptic Christians and tourists. Tourism is the lifeblood of Luxor but it has been hit hard by the downturn in foreign visitors since the Arab Spring unleashed political turmoil since 2011. Signs in Arabic read, "The plot you are hatching, we will undo" and "leave terrorist." (AP Photo/Ibrahim Zayed)

      CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's most powerful Muslim group on Wednesday blamed the secular and liberal opposition for a wave of violence over the appointment of new Islamist governors.

    • This citizen journalism image provided by Lens Young Homsi, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrian rebels using a rocket launcher to attack Syrian soldiers loyal to Syrian president Bashar Assad, in Homs province, Syria, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Syrian warplanes bombed rebel positions near a contested military air base in the north of Syria on Tuesday, activists said, while President Bashar Assad's forces nearby pressed ahead with an offensive against opposition fighters in the country's largest city Aleppo. (AP Photo/Lens Young Homsi)
      Syria state TV says explosion hits military depot AP - 19 hrs ago

      BEIRUT (AP) — An explosion at a military depot outside Syria's coastal city of Latakia left six people lightly injured on Wednesday, state television said. More »Syria state TV says explosion hits military depot

      This citizen journalism image provided by Lens Young Homsi, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrian rebels using a rocket launcher to attack Syrian soldiers loyal to Syrian president Bashar Assad, in Homs province, Syria, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Syrian warplanes bombed rebel positions near a contested military air base in the north of Syria on Tuesday, activists said, while President Bashar Assad's forces nearby pressed ahead with an offensive against opposition fighters in the country's largest city Aleppo. (AP Photo/Lens Young Homsi)

      BEIRUT (AP) — An explosion at a military depot outside Syria's coastal city of Latakia left six people lightly injured on Wednesday, state television said.

    • U.S. Navy sailors stand in formation aboard the USS Stockdale before maneuvers with the Jordanian Navy in the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan as part of Eager Lion, a multinational military exercise, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Under the watchful eye of stern-faced American advisers, hundreds of U.S.-trained Jordanian soldiers are holding war games that could eventually form the basis of an assault in Syria. There is fear of spillover from the Syrian war in this U.S.-allied kingdom, and the potential for a Jordanian role in securing Syria's chemical stockpiles should Bashar Assad's regime lose control. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
      AP EXCLUSIVE: US war games send signal to Assad JAMAL HALABY - AP - Tue, Jun 18, 2013

      ZARQA, Jordan (AP) — Under the watchful eye of stern-faced American advisers, hundreds of U.S.-trained Jordanian commandos fanned across this dusty desert plain, holding … More »AP EXCLUSIVE: US war games send signal to Assad

      U.S. Navy sailors stand in formation aboard the USS Stockdale before maneuvers with the Jordanian Navy in the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan as part of Eager Lion, a multinational military exercise, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Under the watchful eye of stern-faced American advisers, hundreds of U.S.-trained Jordanian soldiers are holding war games that could eventually form the basis of an assault in Syria. There is fear of spillover from the Syrian war in this U.S.-allied kingdom, and the potential for a Jordanian role in securing Syria's chemical stockpiles should Bashar Assad's regime lose control. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

      ZARQA, Jordan (AP) — Under the watchful eye of stern-faced American advisers, hundreds of U.S.-trained Jordanian commandos fanned across this dusty desert plain, holding war games that could eventually form the basis of an assault in Syria.

    • Israeli President Shimon Peres , center, sits flanked by former US President Bill Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, in a Jerusalem convention center as Peres' 90th birthday gala gets underway, Tuesday June 18 2013. (AP Photo/ Jim Hollander, pool)
      Star-studded party for Israeli president's 90th TIA GOLDENBERG - AP - Tue, Jun 18, 2013

      JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli and global leaders, local celebrities and Hollywood superstars celebrated under one roof Tuesday to honor Israeli President Shimon Peres for … More »Star-studded party for Israeli president's 90th

      Israeli President Shimon Peres , center, sits flanked by former US President Bill Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, in a Jerusalem convention center as Peres' 90th birthday gala gets underway, Tuesday June 18 2013. (AP Photo/ Jim Hollander, pool)

      JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli and global leaders, local celebrities and Hollywood superstars celebrated under one roof Tuesday to honor Israeli President Shimon Peres for his upcoming 90th birthday, reflecting world respect for one of the country's peace pioneers.

    • Tourism workers and activists in Luxor protest a newly appointed Islamist governor and block his office Tuesday June 18, 2013. Adel el-Khayat was named to the provincial governor's post Sunday by President Mohammed Morsi, causing outrage because of his links to Gamaa Islamiya, which waged an armed insurgency against the state starting in 1992 and attacked police, Coptic Christians and tourists. Tourism is the lifeblood of Luxor but it has been hit hard by the downturn in foreign visitors since the Arab Spring unleashed political turmoil since 2011. Signs in Arabic read, "The plot you are hatching, we will undo" and "leave terrorist." (AP Photo/Ibrahim Zayed)
      Clashes erupt in Egypt over Islamist governors MAGGIE MICHAEL - AP - Tue, Jun 18, 2013

      CAIRO (AP) — Clashes erupted between supporters and opponents of Egypt's president and his Muslim Brotherhood Tuesday over his appointment of new Islamist governors, … More »Clashes erupt in Egypt over Islamist governors

      Tourism workers and activists in Luxor protest a newly appointed Islamist governor and block his office Tuesday June 18, 2013. Adel el-Khayat was named to the provincial governor's post Sunday by President Mohammed Morsi, causing outrage because of his links to Gamaa Islamiya, which waged an armed insurgency against the state starting in 1992 and attacked police, Coptic Christians and tourists. Tourism is the lifeblood of Luxor but it has been hit hard by the downturn in foreign visitors since the Arab Spring unleashed political turmoil since 2011. Signs in Arabic read, "The plot you are hatching, we will undo" and "leave terrorist." (AP Photo/Ibrahim Zayed)

      CAIRO (AP) — Clashes erupted between supporters and opponents of Egypt's president and his Muslim Brotherhood Tuesday over his appointment of new Islamist governors, some in areas where opponents are strong.

     

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