Dozens of Yazidis enslaved by IS in Iraq now free
Craig TaylorThe 36 men, women and children were held by IS in Iraq for nearly three years. BBC News – Middle East
Middle East
Pope Francis visits bombed Coptic church during Egypt visit
Francis is on a short visit to Egypt, where he has urged religious leaders to help end violence. BBC News – Middle East
Syria war: ‘Israeli strike’ hits military site near Damascus airport
Unconfirmed reports say an Israeli strike targeted an arms supply hub operated by Hezbollah. BBC News – Middle East
IS conflict: Iraqi force ‘retakes ancient city of Hatra’
The scale of the damage done by IS militants to the site – featured in The Exorcist – is not clear. BBC News – Middle East
Yemen aid summit seeks to pull nation from brink
Countries are urged to commit cash to save ‘forgotten’ Yemen from humanitarian catastrophe. BBC News – Middle East
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman reverses public sector pay cuts
In a raft of decrees, King Salman fires his civil service minister and makes his son US ambassador. BBC News – Middle East