The United States has taken the first step in its expanded fight against Islamic State (IS) militants, going to the aid of Iraqi security forces near Baghdad who were being attacked by enemy fighters.

Aid has begun to flow to a small northern Shiite town in Iraq, a day after security forces backed by Iran-allied Shiite militias and US airstrikes broke a two-month siege by Sunni militants.

A suicide bomber and several gunmen have attacked a Sunni mosque in a volatile province of Iraq during Friday prayers, killing at least 64 people and wounding more than 60.

Islamic extremists in Iraq killed 80 men from a Yazidi village and abducted their wives and children, eyewitnesses said today, insisting the religious community is still at risk after a week of US and Iraqi airstrikes on the militants.

Iraq’s Mosul dam, held by the Islamic State group, is being targeted in airstrikes, residents there say.

Survivors of an attack on a northern village in Iraq say militants from the Islamic State group killed more than 80 Yazidi men there, officials in Iraq said.

Kurdish security forces took over two major oil fields outside the disputed northern city of Kirkuk before dawn yesterday and said they would use some of the production for domestic purposes.

I was heartened recently to see Stormont’s First Minister Peter Robinson declare everyone equal under the law, following the arrest by PSNI of Gerry Adams.

A new wave of bombings has caused carnage in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, killing at least 20 people.

Security forces in Belfast are dealing with two bomb alerts.

Security forces are dealing with two bomb alerts in Belfast.

A wave of blasts in Baghdad and other violence has killed at least 47 people in the latest surge of Iraqi bloodshed.

Lebanese security forces have arrested a suspect in connection with the devastating double bombing the day before that killed at least 47 people in the northern city of Tripoli, the state news agency said

Security forces have retaken control of an overcrowded prison in western Indonesia following a night-long riot, and have captured most of the estimated 30 convicts who escaped, authorities said.

Egyptian security forces have moved with deadly force to clear two sit-in camps of supporters of the country’s ousted president Mohammed Morsi, leading to wildly differing claims about the death toll.

Bahraini security forces fanned out across the island in unprecedented numbers as Shiites marked the one-year anniversary of their uprising against the country’s Sunni rulers.

Security forces moved out in unprecedented numbers today as Bahrain marked the one-year anniversary of the Shiite-led uprising against its Sunni rulers.

Security forces in Afghanistan have killed 30 suspected insurgents in a series of clashes around the country.

Doctors say at least eight protesters have been killed by Yemeni security forces.

Security forces in Bahrain have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse anti-government protesters demanding greater rights for the Gulf kingdom’s Shiite majority.

Syrian security forces have carried out fresh raids after one of the deadliest days in months in the country’s uprising, activists said today.

Security forces opened fire at tens of thousands of mourners who turned out for the funeral of a slain Kurdish opposition leader in north-eastern Syria today, killing at least two people, activists said.

More than 1,000 people were reported injured as Egyptian security forces clashed for a second day in Cairo with hundreds of youths.

Security forces have opened fire on anti-government protesters in southern Syria, killing at least three people, as the government moves to crush a popular nationwide revolt, Syrian rights activists said today.

Libyan security forces today opened fired on mourners at a funeral for anti-government protesters in the eastern city of Benghazi.

Security forces have reportedly disappeared from the streets of Yemen’s second largest city after 10 days of constant protests, threatening to plunge Aden into chaos.

Security forces opened fire on protesters in Bahrain for a second day, wounding at least 50 people as thousands defied the government in an uprising that seeks to break the political grip of the Gulf nation’s leaders.

Security forces have fired tear gas on thousands of protest marchers in Bahrain's capital after angry calls to topple the Gulf nation's monarchy.

Security forces have clashed with anti-government protesters in Yemen on the seventh consecutive day of demonstrations calling for the removal of the president.

Clashes between Iranian police and tens of thousands of protesters wracked central Tehran today killing one person, as opposition supporters tried to evoke the spirit of Egypt's popular uprising.

AFRICAN mediators have offered Ivory Coast’s embattled leader Laurent Gbagbo incentives to stand down after disputed polls, using the threat of military action as the only alternative.

An Iraqi has killed his 19-year-old daughter after discovering al-Qaida had recruited her as a suicide bomber, police say.

Security forces have raided the office of Iran’s top opposition leader and seized computers after days of intimidating visitors with a heavy force presence around the building.

A suicide bomber sat for hours among hundreds of unprotected army recruits today before detonating nail-packed explosives strapped to his body, killing 61 people and casting new doubt on the ability of Iraqi forces as US troops head home.

Iraqi security forces have disrupted a 9/11-style plot by al-Qaida in Iraq to fly hijacked planes into Shiite religious shrines, Iraqi and US officials said.

Security forces clashed with crowds gathered for a memorial for Iran’s most dissident cleric today.

Security forces in army trucks today sent thousands more residents away from the smouldering Mayon volcano, which looks set for a major eruption.

Security forces have foiled a bid to kill police officers in the North, it was revealed today.

Security forces in Niger arrested the country's main Opposition leader hours after he called for a general strike and accused the president of carrying out the equivalent of a coup by unilaterally dissolving the nation's top court.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai accused guards working for coalition forces of killing a provincial police chief and at least four others in a gun battle today.

Iran's opposition announced a third day of street demonstrations today as the country's most powerful military force warned of a crackdown against online media in its first pronouncement on the deepening election crisis.

More than 300 former soldiers have sought specialist treatment to help them deal with the legacy of the North's Troubles in the last year, it was revealed today.

Security forces have clashed with militants in two north-west Pakistani tribal regions, killing more than 50 alleged insurgents, a paramilitary statement and a government official.

Security forces have killed 15 militants and detained 60 others, the Pakistan army said today, in the first major action against insurgents under the country's new government.