Recapture of Hajin comes as Turkey threatens military assault against same fighters

Move is designed to keep economy afloat as government fails to tackle rising deficits

Residents displaced by conflict face Assad regime plans to knock down homes

Western powers say attack was faked as pretext to launch air strikes on rebels

Group re-emerges as ‘clandestine’ organisation sowing instability in Iraq and Syria

Operation aimed at destroying tunnels that run from southern Lebanon into northern Israel

Ankara accuses unidentified actors of trying to scupper ceasefire agreement with Moscow

Talk abounds in grandparents’ homeland on the real reason behind car chief’s downfall

Arrangement shows efforts by Russia to help ship oil and cash to the Syrian regime

Raed Fares was leading voice for democratic protest in the country

Agreement between Baghdad and Kurdish government could add up to 400,000 b/d

Dispute involving French company and Kuwait’s Agility highlight pitfalls of investing in Iraq

Lebanese traders hope to reconnect with markets in the Gulf as land routes open up

Putin, Merkel, Erdogan and Macron call for moves to free and fair elections

Eight unfilled roles underlines Abdul Mahdi’s unstable political footing

Years of conflict have disrupted trade and driven more than 1m refugees over border

Aid groups warn of ‘catastrophe’ looming at Rukban settlement on Jordanian border

Staffan de Mistura’s decision comes as talks intensify over how to end fighting

Final deadline looms for withdrawal of rebel fighters from de-escalation zone