Jane Arraf

The Shiite cleric venerated by millions has reached out to Saudi Arabia, distanced himself from Iran and is effectively burning down his own political movement by aligning with Communists.

Mosul's mosaic of Iraqi Christian communities and an ancient cathedral were damaged by ISIS militants. Now, Christians there are staying away.

When ISIS invaded their villages in northern Iraq in 2014, tens of thousands of Yazidis fled for safety. Now their community leader says over 4,000 remain up on a mountain.

In 2014 the U.S. cited the attacks on Yazidis in Iraq as a reason to join the war against ISIS. But now that ISIS is gone, Yazidis are largely neglected and remain desperate on Mount Sinjar.

For years, Kurdish fighters have protected the Yazidis, a persecuted minority oppressed by ISIS in northern Iraq. Now those fighters are leaving the region.

Egypt has a presidential election starting Monday, but the winner is almost certain already: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. And tight restrictions limit discussion of other options.

Egypt has a presidential election starting Monday, but the winner is almost certain already: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. And tight restrictions limit discussion of other options.

With elections next week almost certain to give Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi another term, the government has imposed tight restrictions on free speech. Reporters aren't supposed to ask people how they vote.

In Iraq, it's not easy trying to navigate life as a young woman — particularly when your culture doesn't give girls many choices. Add war and poverty on top of that and it's even harder.

Secretary of State Tillerson is at the meetings on rebuilding Iraq after the fight against ISIS. People say raising the money is necessary to keep radical militants from taking hold there again.

A candidate has finally emerged to challenge Egyptian President's Abdel Fattah al-Sisi re-election campaign. Even with another candidate, the expected outcome of the election probably won't change.

Filing to run for president of Egypt begins this weekend, but potential candidates say they're afraid of the consequences of taking on hardline President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who looks to run again.

An orphanage in the Iraqi city of Mosul is caring for confused and unidentified children left in the wake of ISIS.

A morgue in Mosul, Iraq, documented more than 5,000 civilians killed during the battle to free the city from ISIS — likely more than the number of ISIS fighters that died.

Iraq is celebrating the defeat of ISIS as Prime Minister Haider al Abadi declared Dec. 10 the country's newest national holiday. The prime minister has also won a face-off with Kurds, but still faces pressures from inside and outside his country.

Mosul, Iraq is now free from ISIS control, after years of a brutal and violent occupation. Two sisters who attend Mosul University talk about their goals for the future, and the obstacles that remain.

Power has shifted again in one of Iraq's most ancient and pivotal cities — Kirkuk. Kurds have recently been on top there but now Arab leaders are in charge and residents are tense as they look ahead.

Many foreign ISIS families are in the process of being moved to Baghdad as Iraq works to persuade countries like Russia and Turkey, to take back foreign wives and children of ISIS fighters.

Dozens of people have been killed after an attack on a mosque in Egypt's north Sinai.

Rescue workers in Iran are trying to dig out survivors from the rubble after a major earthquake struck along its border with Iraq yesterday. Hundreds are dead, and thousands are injured and in need of shelter.