Landmark seizure of caliphate opens new chapter in Middle East power struggle

No liberation in sight for the religious minority enslaved by jihadists

Iran president visits Baghdad for first time as leader to ask for help in sanctions fight

Rift widens between destruction and vitality on opposing banks of Tigris river

Encircled by Assad, the fate of last opposition stronghold lies with Moscow and Ankara

Decision relieves headache for Macron who said foreign jihadis should be tried locally

Imposition of ban on entirety of Lebanese Shia movement aligns with US

Arrest of parents and ostracisation of ‘young wolves’ raise fears of radicalisation

Washington partially reverses course on Trump decision to withdraw all American forces

Departure signals impending end to extremists’ self-declared caliphate

UK, France and Germany under pressure from Trump to repatriate militants

The president must reconstruct a devastated country but western powers will not fund any effort that keeps him in power

Life in the Iraqi capital is never simple — even gastronomic pursuits are tinged with danger

Baghdad navigates between troop pullout from Syria and US campaign against Iran

Electricity minister’s comments alert foreign groups hoping for lucrative contracts

Moscow strikes energy pacts and steps into politics as US retreats from region

Chloe Cornish’s top reads this week: US rebuff to Beijing, Syria’s missing men, breast-feeding ultrarunners

Devastation of war contributes to profound shift in gender roles

Putin urges Erdogan to fresh efforts in clearing Idlib of extremist militant groups

Doha plans to buy $500m of sovereign debt to ease one of world’s biggest burdens

Arab neighbours accept Syria’s president is here to stay despite huge domestic challenges

Officials have met regional leaders to reassure allies over Donald Trump’s Mideast policy