Captain Kristen Griest became the US army’s first female infantry officer this week, the army said, in a milestone for the US military as it opens up combat roles for women.

The US Army has said it is 'reasonably certain' the so-called Islamic State extremist known as Jihadi John has been killed.

The US is abandoning plans to cut the number of its forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by the end of the year, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops there, officials said.