Jane Araf

You know, I remember doing an interview in Egypt and there had been so much time spent on demonizing the foreign press as people who wanted to destroy the country and they were anti-Egyptian and they didn't love Egypt. That I would have people grab my notebook out of my hand or scream at me because they believed that it wasn't me trying to find facts and information and share that with the world.

You know, I remember doing an interview in Egypt and there had been so much time spent on demonizing the foreign press as people who wanted to destroy the country and they were anti-Egyptian and they didn't love Egypt. That I would have people grab my notebook out of my hand or scream at me because they believed that it wasn't me trying to find facts and information and share that with the world.

It was me trying to destroy Egypt. And that feels familiar.

It was me trying to destroy Egypt. And that feels familiar.

It was me trying to destroy Egypt. And that feels familiar.

The U.S. military said it launched an airstrike with help from Iraqi intelligence and security forces in the country's al-Anbar province. It's a remote part of Iraq where ISIS has been hiding out and regrouping since its territorial defeat in Syria six years ago. The military said the target was the group's deputy leader for global attacks. Abdullah Malik al-Rafai.

The U.S. military said it launched an airstrike with help from Iraqi intelligence and security forces in the country's al-Anbar province. It's a remote part of Iraq where ISIS has been hiding out and regrouping since its territorial defeat in Syria six years ago. The military said the target was the group's deputy leader for global attacks. Abdullah Malik al-Rafai.

The Iraqi government said Rafai also served as head of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. military said the airstrike also killed another ISIS operative, whom it did not name. The U.S. maintains bases in Iraq to fight ISIS, but has agreed with the Iraqi government to disband the coalition by the end of the year. Jane Araf, NPR News, Damascus.

The Iraqi government said Rafai also served as head of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. military said the airstrike also killed another ISIS operative, whom it did not name. The U.S. maintains bases in Iraq to fight ISIS, but has agreed with the Iraqi government to disband the coalition by the end of the year. Jane Araf, NPR News, Damascus.

The killings targeted Alawite communities, the same religious minority to which deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad belonged. The new government has been fighting loyalists of the old regime on the Mediterranean coast, and the killings began there after government forces were killed in clashes.

The killings targeted Alawite communities, the same religious minority to which deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad belonged. The new government has been fighting loyalists of the old regime on the Mediterranean coast, and the killings began there after government forces were killed in clashes.

Syria has no army or even police force since the fall of the regime, and other fighters that the government now blames for the killings rushed in after the ambush. Syrian President Ahmed Ashara has tried to reassure minorities the government will protect them. This is the biggest challenge to central government rule since he took power. Jaina Raff, NPR News, Damascus.

Syria has no army or even police force since the fall of the regime, and other fighters that the government now blames for the killings rushed in after the ambush. Syrian President Ahmed Ashara has tried to reassure minorities the government will protect them. This is the biggest challenge to central government rule since he took power. Jaina Raff, NPR News, Damascus.

The PKK, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, has declared a ceasefire with Turkey after a call by its founder, Abdullah Ocalan. Ocalan has been in solitary confinement for 26 years in a Turkish prison. This week, he told Turkish politicians it was time for his followers to abandon armed struggle.

The PKK, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, has declared a ceasefire with Turkey after a call by its founder, Abdullah Ocalan. Ocalan has been in solitary confinement for 26 years in a Turkish prison. This week, he told Turkish politicians it was time for his followers to abandon armed struggle.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and the U.S., as guerrilla fighters have battled the Turkish military from mountain bases on the border with Iraq. The group has come under increasing pressure in Syria, where Turkish-backed militias are playing an increasing role since the fall of the Syrian regime. Jane Araf, NPR News, Damascus.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and the U.S., as guerrilla fighters have battled the Turkish military from mountain bases on the border with Iraq. The group has come under increasing pressure in Syria, where Turkish-backed militias are playing an increasing role since the fall of the Syrian regime. Jane Araf, NPR News, Damascus.

The funeral was held at Beirut's biggest sports stadium, the only venue large enough to accommodate mourners. Nasrallah is one of the founders of Hezbollah, created to counter the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. His killing last September deeply shocked his followers and severely weakened the organization.

The funeral was held at Beirut's biggest sports stadium, the only venue large enough to accommodate mourners. Nasrallah is one of the founders of Hezbollah, created to counter the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. His killing last September deeply shocked his followers and severely weakened the organization.

But at the funeral, mourners and officials said he was more influential as what they consider a martyr than he was alive. They vowed to continue his path of resistance against Israel and the United States. Senior Iranian and Iraqi officials attended the funeral, along with what Hezbollah said were mourners from dozens of countries. Jane Araf, NPR News, Beirut.