SEOUL, May 6: North Korea said on Sunday its intention to denuclearise, unveiled at a historic inter-Korean summit, was not the result of U.S.-led sanctions and pressure, warning the United States not to mislead public opinion.

Twenty-one civilians were killed in US-led coalition air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria in recent months, officials acknowledged today. The deaths bring to at least 220 the number of civilians unintentionally killed since operations to defeat IS began in late summer 2014, though critics say the real number is a lot higher.

BEIRUT, Sept 18: Syrian government warplanes and special forces on Sunday destroyed several positions of the Islamic State group in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. The advance regained territory lost to the extremists Saturday when Syrian troops were hit with airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition.