Egypt has reinforced its border with the Gaza Strip and accused Iran of threatening its security after Islamist fighters of Hamas violently seized control of the territory.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) — The US military said on Thursday it was setting a trap to “eliminate” Al Qaeda gunmen around Baghdad, but also said 12 American soldiers had been killed in the past two days, mostly in roadside bombings.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s defence minister said Thursday that Islamic gunmen holed up in a north Lebanon refugee camp have been defeated and that the monthlong “military operation is over”, except for mopping up.