BAGHDAD, Iraq — A U.S. Black Hawk helicopter made a “hard landing” north of Baghdad on Wednesday and the crew was recovered safely by a rescue chopper, a military spokesman said.

World powers sought common ground Wednesday to confront Palestinian Hamas militants who are politically emboldened by a new power-sharing pact with moderates.

Seven Saudis released from the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay returned home on Wednesday and were promptly detained to see if they had terrorist connections, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.