Abdullah al-Thuweini

Iraqi official says Islamic State group recruiters have visited schools to pick children for military training, as Iraqi government forces prepare to retake city.

IS group digs trenches, builds barricades and closes roads as Iraqi forces prepare for operation to retake country's second largest city.

Muqtada al-Sadr says US congress bill to directly channel funding to various sects in Iraq would be a major disaster for Iraq and lead to its division.

Iraqi government retires officers ahead of PM's US-trip and in an effort to restructure a military still struggling against the Islamic State group.

As the Kurdish Peshmerga enter territory captured from the Islamic State group, the Iraqi government is looking to wrest control of areas it fears will be annexed to the autonomous northern region.

One of Iran's top presidential advisers has made inflammatory remarks about his country's power in the region, which appear to fit with suspicions of an expansionist project in Tehran.

Residents are fleeing Saddam's hometown, escaping both the harsh laws imposed by the IS group and the attacks by pro-government forces trying to retake the city.

The militant group reportedly is harvesting organs from dead fighters and hostages to fuel its terrorist activities.