Libyan forces advance into final IS-strongholds in Sirte

Libyan government forces close in on the last Islamic State militant holdouts in the coastal city of Sirte. The three-month-old campaign to reclaim the city has been backed by U.S. air strikes since the start of August. Aug 29, 2016

Explosions rock Syrian town of Jarablus bordering Turkey

Explosions ring out in Syrian border town of Jarablus as Turkey-backed rebel forces advance in Syria as part of an operation to wipe out Islamic State militants from the border. The Turkish-backed operation aims partly to prevent the Kurdish Peoples Protection Unit (YPG) militia and Democratic Union Party (PYD)- the political wing of YPG - further expanding their influence in northern Syria. The YPG is a critical component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Aug 27, 2016