Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday rejected a formal call from President Abdul Latif Rashid to reverse his decision to boycott upcoming legislative elections.

Politician Sirri Sureyya Onder remains in intensive care in Istanbul following a heart attack earlier this week, the hospital said on Friday.

A teacher in Iran’s Kurdistan province is under investigation after reportedly beating 13 primary school students, leaving at least one hospitalized, according to reports from state-affiliated media and human rights groups.

Internal security forces in northeast Syria (Rojava) announced on Friday a new operation targeting the Islamic State (ISIS) in al-Hol camp where it said the jihadists are stepping up efforts to reorganize and carry out attacks.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Thursday received a phone call from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, reaffirming their close ties after making controversial remarks about Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).