Syria

The United States has begun reconnaissance flights over Syria to track Islamic State jihadists but insisted Tuesday it has "no plans" to coordinate with Syria on targeting the militants.
      

Although the Netherlands has decided to end its contribution to NATO’s deployment of Patriot anti-ballistic missile systems in Turkey at the end of January, the alliance’s deployments will continue, a Turkish diplomat has told Hürriyet Daily News. The official noted the U.S. and Germany plan to extend the mission for one more year.

SALZBURG, BELGRADE – Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said Tuesday that Serbia would continue to be a significant factor of regional stability and a reliable partner in international relations.

"Delicate moment" for OSCE chairmanship

SALZBURG -- Foreign Minister and First Deputy PM Ivica Dačić says Serbia will be taking over the chairmanship of the OSCE in a delicate and complicated moment for Europe.

He stressed that the participation of the OSCE in resolving the Ukrainian crisis was "further confirmation of the relevance and organization."

UAE warplanes secretly bombed Islamist militia targets in Libya, apparently catching Washington off guard, as turmoil in the North African country deepened with the Islamists naming a rival premier.
      
American officials said on Aug. 25 that the United Arab Emirates' jets launched two attacks in seven days on the Islamists in Tripoli using bases in Egypt.
      

By Costas Onisenko

The Netherlands will end its contribution to NATO's deployment of Patriot anti-ballistic missile systems in Turkey at the end of January, the government said on Aug. 25.

The United States is poised to send spy planes into Syria to track Islamist militants, preparing the way for possible air strikes against jihadists there, a senior U.S. official said Aug. 25.

Syria said Monday it was willing to work with the international community, including the United States, to tackle "terrorism" but that any strikes on its territory must be coordinated with Damascus.
      

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said on Aug. 25 a ruthless campaign of "ethnic and religious cleansing" by Islamic State jihadists in Iraq amounted to a crime against humanity.