US Secretary of State John Kerry has ramped up criticism of Syrian president Bashar Assad, calling him a “one-man super-magnet for terrorism” who has committed war crimes and could be responsible for the ultimate disintegration of Syria.

Many people were wounded when a bomb rocked Iraq’s parliament building in the heavily fortified Baghdad Green Zone today.

Tens of thousands draped themselves in Iraqi flags and marched peacefully through the streets of two Shiite holy cities today, the fourth anniversary of Baghdad’s fall.

Five US marines and at least ten Iraqis were killed in a battle with a large force of insurgents near the Syrian border today.