US official says Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was targeted in Syria's Idlib province, possibly killed in an explosion. US President Donald Trump teases a major announcement, tweeting Saturday night that "Something very big has just happened!" Trump is expected to make a "major statement" at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Israel time.
US officials "at a high level" looking into various reports suggesting possible atrocities towards Kurds and demand an explanation from Turkey’s government, envoy says.
Lebanon is being swept by protests against politicians blamed for corruption and waste in a state mired in debt and economic crisis. Flag-waving protesters are keeping roads blocked for a seventh day on Wednesday.
Iran executed seven child offenders last year and two so far this year even though human rights law prohibits the death penalty for anyone under age 18, a UN independent human rights expert says. Javaid Rehman also tells the UN General Assembly's human rights committee that he has "credible information" there are at least 90 child offenders currently on death row in Iran.
"Turkey informed my administration that they would be stopping combat and their offensive in Syria, and making the ceasefire permanent," he says.
i24NEWS GOES INSIDE IRAQ'S BARDARASH REFUGEE CAMP, 23/10/2019, Maël Benoliel from i24NEWS on Vimeo.
US president calls ceasefire he brokered in northern Syria "big success," says "captured ISIS prisoners secured."
"Yazidis need to trust the authorities in Iraq in order to establish peace and make a process of reconciliation and transitional justice," says Mirza Dinnayi.
Demonstrators blast reforms promised by Saad Hariri, which include halving salaries of top officials, overhauling electricity sector, working to scrap country's Information Ministry and other public institutions while downsizing others as "empty promises."
The plan is still in the discussion phase and has not yet been presented to President Donald Trump, says Defense Secretary Mark Esper. White House official says GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham raised the issue of keeping US forces in eastern Syria to protect the oil fields and that Trump supported the idea.
