While President Assad, buoyed by a recent win in Homs, has praised his soldier's bravery in the face of 'the fiercest barbaric war in modern history'

Give yourself a break from daily depilation, says Rebecca Gonsalves

As siege for strategic central Syrian city reaches climax, opposition fears rebel fighters will not hold out much longer

Moving the Qatar tournament would have a huge knock-on effect for domestic leagues

An extraordinary and violent jailbreak in the infamous Iraqi prison of Abu Ghraib is believed to have sprung free hundreds of extremists on Monday night. Suicide bombers blew open the prison gates, opening the way for an assault in which ten guards and four militants were killed. In Washington, US officials fear that the number of prisoners on the loose could total as many as 600, with a significant proportion known al-Qaeda operatives. What does this herald for regional stability and the "war on terror"?

Benjamin Netanyahu used his weekly address to the Israeli cabinet today to reiterate his promise that any eventual peace deal with the Palestinians would be put to a referendum.

Such a move would lead to huge upheaval in domestic leagues

Former Guantanamo Bay prisoner was hit last year but Yemen branch has just announced death

General Sir David Richards cites 'UK's commitment to Lebanon's stability, democracy and sovereignty'

Large crowds poured into the streets in the troubled northern Lebanese city of Tripoli today in support of the radical Sunni sheikh Ahmad al Assir, whose followers fought fierce battles with the Lebanese army this week.

In his accession speech, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who was handed power by his father on Tuesday in a rare example of a hereditary Arab ruler stepping down, said that the Gulf state would not “take direction” from anyone.

Members also call for Hezbollah and other foreign fighters to pull out

Members also call for Hezbollah and other foreign fighters to pull out