Syrian Arab Republic

Adnan Al Afyouni was seen as close to President Bashar Al Assad and headed a Syrian counter-extremism centre

High temperatures also sparked blazes in northern and central Israel and the occupied West Bank

One person killed and another injured in explosions at mosque in the south of the capital

But only few families have benefited so far from houses built by Turkish charities

Heavily bombarded rebel-held area has suffered decades of neglect

A detente between government forces and Kurdish units has improved security in the northeastern Syrian city

Part of building in town of Sarmeen had been turned into shelter for displaced

Conflict in rebel-held region has disrupted the education of hundreds of thousands of children

Forty killed when missile struck meeting of Al Qaeda-affiliated groups, war monitor says

Since April, bombardment by the Syrian military and its Russian ally has killed more than 900 civilians in Idlib