The long-debated “minerals deal” was finally signed between the US and Ukraine late Wednesday, after a months-long, whiplash-producing back and forth between the two parties. In the end, Wednesday started with an affirmation that the deal would be signed, then by mid-day we were told that the Ukraine government aircraft …

“We are committed to distancing Iraq from regional wars,” Hussein said. “Baghdad does not desire escalation in the region.” Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein warned that the threat posed by ISIS has resurfaced, cautioning that the extremist group is actively regrouping and planning attacks. His remarks came in a special …

Israel bombed an area near the presidential palace in Damascus early on Friday, in its clearest warning yet to Syria’s new Islamist-led authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action in the name of the country’s Druze minority.Syria’s government called the bombing a “dangerous escalation” amid increasing hostility between …