At the height of its power, ISIL held around a third of Syria and 40% of Iraq.

Israel is reopening the Rafah Crossing after almost two years, but only 150-200 people will be allowed to pass through.

Israeli and US officials are preparing to build Gaza’s first experimental community.

Iranian state TV has been hacked, to show messages from the exiled son of the late Shah.

Exiled Iranian opposition groups are encouraging demonstrators to take over state institutions amid protests in Iran.

Violent protests and a fierce security crackdown have killed hundreds of people in Iran.

For months, US officials pushed the story that Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro was the head of a drug cartel.

The abduction of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro has heightened fears that the US could intervene in other countries.

Three countries go to the polls on December 28, and observers say there is a chance for protest, even violence.