After six months of silence, elusive figure emerges to mock US claims of victory

Texan man offered his services to terror group as English teacher, documents suggest

Brett McGurk to stand down from post over decision to withdraw troops from Syria

Terror group still poses threat as it takes advantage of political instability to rebuild

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Mixed messages emerge from meeting between Donald Trump and National Security Council

‘Raqqa’s Dirty Secret’ says 250 fighters with families and arms were given safe passage

Confusion and uncertainty reign as political, ethnic and hidden agendas play out

Ties between Ankara and West eroding as Turkey moves closer to dictatorship

Even if the Islamists are defeated militarily, what comes next has coalition jittery

Washington expresses concern Turkish troops focusing on Kurds and not Isis

Fighters capture strategic river crossing in Iraq backed by US-led coalition air strikes

Kurdish forces battling Islamic State militants seize 11 villages in latest push

Isis targets civilians and tries to stir sectarian strife amid onslaught in Syria and Iraq

Opposition-held areas of Aleppo city close to encirclement as Assad forces step up assault